title: Impact of peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment on liver tissue in patients with HCV or HCV-HIV co-infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin on liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with or without HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 micro/kg/week during the first 4 weeks; 1.0 micro/kg/week thereafter) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day, adjusted for weight) for 24 (genotypes 2/3) or 48 weeks (genotypes 1/4). Paired liver biopsy specimens were obtained at baseline and at the end of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  108 paired biopsy specimens were available: 67 from HCV-monoinfected and 41 from co-infected patients. At the end of follow-up, necroinflammatory activity (NIA) was significantly reduced (P<0.001), and fibrosis scores improved by > or = 1 point (Ishak et al criteria) in 65.7% of HCV-monoinfected patients. In co-infected patients, NIA was significantly reduced (P<0.001), and fibrosis scores improved by > or = 1 point in 42.5% of cases. In both groups, results were better for patients who attained sustained virological response (SVR). HCV RNA was undetectable in the second biopsy specimens of all patients who attained SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver fibrosis is reduced significantly after a course of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Reduction of fibrosis is more significant in patients who are monoinfected with HCV and in those who attained SVR.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Joaquim Urbano, Rua Câmara Pestana 348, 4369-004 Porto, Portugal. rsarmento@tvtel.pt <rsarmento@tvtel.pt>
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarmento-Castro
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fortes
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Recalde
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b