Liver biopsy in HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C: pros and cons

Liver biopsy was a common procedure in patients with chronic hepatitis C who planned to begin treatment with interferon. The greater response rates seen with the use of dual combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin and the almost universal recognition of fibrosis and faster progression to cirrhosis seen in HIV-HCV coinfected patients does not justify the request of a liver biopsy before prescribing anti-HCV therapy in this population, outside clinical trials.