Long-term Effects of IDU, HIV, HCV and the Impact of HCV Cure on Immune Activation and Liver Fibrosis in Aging Women

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Investigator: Phyllis Tien, MD
Sponsor: University of Southern California

Location(s): United States

Description

The advent of new medications to cure HCV infection and decrease the burden of liver disease has led to tremendous optimism about the potential to eradicate HCV. However, it is not known to what degree curing HCV infection will affect immune recovery in the setting of residual liver injury, especially in HIV-infected women with estrogen depletion of menopause. Our proposed studies will help us better understand if estrogen depletion blunts recovery of liver injury after HCV cure and if residual liver injury affects HIV- associated immune activation/dysregulation. This will help inform strategies for prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.