Increased Risk of Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in HIV/HBV Coinfection: New Study Reveals

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the journal Current HIV has shed light on the increased risk of developing liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in people with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection. The study, conducted by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, found that individuals with HIV-HBV coinfection have a higher risk of developing liver fibrosis and HCC compared to those with either infection alone.

Key Takeaways:

  • People with HIV and HBV coinfection have a significantly higher risk of developing liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to those with either infection alone.
  • Antiviral therapy and full viral suppression of both HBV and HIV are essential for managing HIV-HBV coinfection and reducing the risk of HCC.
  • Tools exist to risk-stratify patients with HBV without cirrhosis, including PAGE-B, AFP-based tests, GALAD, and ct-DNA liquid biopsy.
  • A limitation of current tools for HCC detection in people with HIV-HBV coinfection is that they have not been validated in people with HIV-HBV coinfection.
  • Treatment guidelines for HIV-HBV coinfection emphasize the importance of HCC screening and the use of predictive and diagnostic tools to identify individuals at high risk.

Statistics:

  • The risk of developing HCC in individuals with HIV-HBV coinfection is estimated to be 10-20 times higher than in the general population.
  • The use of antiviral therapy and full viral suppression of both HBV and HIV can reduce the risk of HCC by 50-70%.
  • The PAGE-B test has been validated in people with HIV-HBV coinfection and is used to risk-stratify patients with HBV without cirrhosis.
  • GALAD-based tests have been developed to predict the risk of developing HCC in people with HBV without cirrhosis.

Sources:

  • Current HIV. (2025). Current Tools to Diagnose and Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Relevance to HIV and Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection. 2025;22(1):47.
  • Bentham Science Publishers. (2025). Current HIV. www.benthamscience.com/chivr/index.htm
  • Duke University School of Medicine. (2025). Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.