HIV-infected MSM may be at risk for contracting hepatitis C

When physicians think about people who are at risk for contracting hepatitis C they often envision intravenous drug users or individuals who would likely be exposed to contaminated blood products. However, a recent study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicated that HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) may have increased odds of contracting hepatitis C.

The study's results showed that even HIV-positive MSM who didn't have other risk factors for hepatitis C were more likely to contract the infection if they had engaged in unprotected sex.

The researchers said that this finding indicated that healthcare providers should screen their HIV patients for hepatitis C.

"The good news is that the cure rate for new hepatitis C infections is very high with early treatment, but without regular testing of the men at risk, these largely asymptomatic infections may be missed and this opportunity lost," said Dr. Daniel Fierer, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The CDC reports that about 3.2 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis C, which can cause serious liver problems if left untreated.