title: [Early virologic response value as predictive factor of sustained virologic response to treatment with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with or without HIV coinfection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most effective currently available therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection is the combination of interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin both, in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and in patients without coinfection. In an attempt to avoid morbidity and health costs we searched for an indicator of early virologic response (EVR). We evaluated the EVR efficiency at 4 and 12-weeks after the initiation of antiviral combination therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of consecutive 127 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with combination therapy for 12 months in genotypes 1 and 4 and for 6 months in genotypes 2 and 3, were studied, 62 HIV-coinfected and 65 non-coinfected. They were evaluated for sustained virologic response and EVR at 4 and 12-weeks to initial therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sustained virologic response was greater in the non-coinfected group than coinfected group; these differences were significant for genotypes 1 and 4. In both groups EVR had a 100% predictive negative value at 12-weeks after the initiation of therapy in genotypes 1 and 4, however came down in 79% at 4-weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EVR at 12-weeks after the initiation of therapy has a 100% predictive negative value in coinfected and non-coinfected patients. Patient adherence to prescribed antiviral therapy is a predictive value of response.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Digestivo. Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova. Lleida. España. metgesdigestiu@arnau.scs.es
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buenestado-García
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio-Rivas
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reñé-Espinet
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piñol-Felis
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egido-García
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio-Caballero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin