geographically; in Sub-Saharan Africa the prevalence of HCV
among HIV-infected patients ranges between 0% and 22%.12 The
rate of spontaneous HCV clearance is lower among HIV co-infected
patients than among individuals without HIV infection.13 In
regions with increasing availability of antiretroviral treatment
(ART), life expectancy for HIV-infected patients is rising; thus,
HCV-related morbidity may become more important.12,14 Certainly,
HIV/HCV co-infection has been found to be associated with an
increased incidence of end-stage liver disease and a poorer survival
than for HCV infection alone.15 This is probably due to a more rapid
liver disease progression and liver damage among severely
immunosuppressed patients infected with HIV.16 F