In persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV and HCV are independently and additively associated with a higher soluble CD14 (sCD14) level, a recent study showed. The study included 120 individuals with HIV and HCV coinfection, 262 with HIV monoinfection, 72 with HCV monoinfection, and 170 without infection and examined the contribution of liver fibrosis and microbial translocation to immune activation in this population. Researchers found:

• Coinfected individuals, HIV-monoinfected individuals, and HCV-monoinfected individuals had 37%, 21%, and 12% higher sCD14 levels, respectively, than uninfected individuals.
• Microbial translocation contributed to an increased sCD14 level during HIV infection.
• Liver fibrosis played a key role during HCV monoinfection.
• Coinfected individuals may be at greatest risk for progression.