Aging of the Liver: What This Means for Patients with HIV.

Journal Article (Journal Article;Review)

As the HIV population continues to live longer as a result of antiretroviral therapy, liver-related mortality has become one of the leading causes of non-AIDS related death in this patient population. The liver possesses a remarkable regenerative capacity but undergoes complex biological changes in response to aging and inflammation that result in decreased cellular regeneration and a tipping of the scales towards fibrogenesis. Patients with HIV infection have serological evidence of ongoing inflammation, with elevations in some biomarkers persisting despite adequate virologic control. In addition, HIV-co-infected patients have markers of advanced age on liver biopsy and increased prevalence of fibrosis as compared to an age-matched HCV mono-infected cohort. In this review, we will discuss the biology of aging, age-related changes in the liver, and the relevant mechanisms by which HIV causes inflammation in the context of accelerated aging, fibrosis of the liver, and other viral co-infection.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Chan, AW; Patel, YA; Choi, S

Published Date

  • December 2016

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 13 / 6

Start / End Page

  • 309 - 317

PubMed ID

  • 27557619

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7002024

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1548-3576

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s11904-016-0332-x

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States