Two new sets of guidelines—from the National Institutes of Health and an international panel of experts (published in AIDS in June 2008)—inform treatment choices for people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B (HBV). The new information includes:

• HBV viral load (HBV DNA) has emerged as a strong indicator of disease progression. Along with a comprehensive liver assessment, a hepatitis B viral load test should guide treatment decisions.
• Three HIV drugs also treat HBV, and your HIV combo should include two of them: Viread (tenofovir) plus either Emtriva (emtricitabine) or Epivir (lamivudine). An HIV combo that includes two active HBV drugs may help prevent or delay HBV drug resistance while also suppressing HIV.