title: Response to treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alpha in patients infected with HIV-1 is associated with higher CD4+ cell count.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerance of interferon alpha (IFN alpha) treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-seropositive patients. Seventeen patients with actively replicating hepatitis C were consecutively enrolled and treated with IFN alpha 5 MIU three times a week and followed up for at least 6 months after cessation of treatment. Eight patients responded to IFN alpha therapy with a complete remission of signs of active hepatitis and viral replication (ALT, HCV-RNA) at the end of treatment with IFN alpha. A sustained complete remission (ALT, HCV-RNA) for at least 6 months after the end of treatment was achieved in five of these eight patients. Complete responders had higher CD4+ cell counts (median 525/microliter) compared to non-responders (median 245/microliter) (p < 0.001). All patients but one completed at least 4 months of treatment. No severe toxicity (> WHO grade 2) due to IFN alpha treatment occurred. The results indicate that IFN alpha treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-seropositive patients is successful in a considerable number of cases. Success of treatment with IFN alpha is related to higher CD4+ cell counts.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Infektiologie, Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mauss
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klinker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willers
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weissbrich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jablonowski
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins