An estimated 4.25 to 8.2 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C infection. About 850,000 to 2.2 million people are infected with hepatitis B, and an additional 2.7 to 3.9 million people have chronic hepatitis C.

The Northwestern Medicine HIV and Viral Hepatitis Co-infection Program, led by Claudia Hawkins, MD, and Valentina Stosor, MD, aims to prevent the spread of viral hepatitis in the Chicago area by providing comprehensive screening, education and treatment for chronic viral hepatitis B and C to both HIV-infected and -uninfected adults.

As many as 85 percent of persons with hepatitis C may be unaware of their infection. Our goal is to detect infections early and provide timely treatment to patients with these chronic infections to prevent complications such as chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Our unique outpatient program is comprised of a multi-specialist team that includes two Infectious Diseases-trained physicians, a hepatologist, and clinical pharmacists all trained in the diagnosis, management and care of patients with HIV and viral hepatitis B and C.

Services provided by the program include:

• Hepatitis A and B immunization
• Testing for hepatitis B and C in at-risk and susceptible adults in hospital and community settings
• Hepatitis D virus testing
• Inpatient hepatitis C testing and referral
• Viral hepatitis education
• Therapies for viral HCV and HBV infection
• Surveillance and management of viral hepatitis B- and C-related complications
• Management of pregnant women with hepatitis B
• Evaluation and management of HIV infection in setting of liver disease, including pre-liver transplant care
• Management of HIV and hepatitis infections after liver transplantation

Research conducted within the viral HIV and hepatitis program includes studies of long- and short-term hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes after HCV cure in HIV/HCV co-infected patients; outcomes after liver transplantation; treatment adherence and access; immunization practices; HCV testing and referral to care.

Our team also conducts research studies of HIV and liver transplantation, including the use of HIV positive donors under the HOPE Act.