[Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection with interferon in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus].
BACKGROUND
We assessed the effectivity of the treatment with interferon (IFN) in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with chronic hepatitis (CH) by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).


METHODS
We studied 14 heterosexual males ex-parenterally drug consumers (PDC) and infected by the HIV (mean age 26 +/- 4.2 years), belonging to group A of CDC (1993); 10 had values of CD4 > 500 mmc and 4, between 200 and 500, the latter receiving treatment with zidovudine. In all these patients, the diagnosis of active chronic hepatitis was confirmed through histology. Three MUI of IFN-alpha 2b, 3 days/week during 24 weeks were administered. Sustained response to treatment was considered as the normalization of the aminotransferase levels until the end of the study; partial response, as the 50% decrease in the initial levels until the end of the treatment; relapse, as the response and latter increase in 1.5 of the ALT values at the end of the 24 weeks; and absence of response, as the lack of significant changes in the aminotransferase concentrations.


RESULTS
Tolerance of the treatment was good, without severe side effects and just in one case, the medication had to be interrupted. In 5 patients, there was a response (all of them with more than 500 CD4). In 2 of these patients, the response was partial. In 3, there was a relapse and 3 other patients did not show any response (CD4 > 500). Three patients gave up the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-alpha 2b is well tolerated in a 24-week treatment in patients with HIV, CH and HCV. However, it was only effective for the control of this disease in patients with HIV infection with more than 500 lymphocytes CD4, without any significant effect in the evolution of the HIV infection.
Sánchez
J F
JF
Unidad de Infecciosas, Hospital Ntra. Sra. de la Montaña, Cáceres.
Pascua
J
J
Sánchez
F
F
Crespo
L
L
Briones
A
A
Martín
C
C
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
Tratamiento con interferón de la hepatitis crónica por virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.