title: Antiretroviral activity of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients co-infected with HIV/hepatitis C virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the early anti-HIV activity of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a and ribavirin in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 19 patients with baseline plasma HIV load (HIV-RNA) >1000 copies/mL treated with PEG-IFN alfa-2a and ribavirin, HIV-RNA and T-cell subsets were measured at baseline and 2, 4 and 12 weeks after initiation of anti-HCV therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant HIV-RNA decrease (>1 log(10) copies/mL) through week 12 of anti-HCV treatment. The magnitude of HIV-RNA decline was associated with baseline HIV-RNA, CD4 count and PEG-IFN weight-adjusted dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant early anti-HIV activity of PEG-IFN alfa-2a was observed. Such an effect warrants further clinical evaluation in the management of co-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera 164, Turin, Italy. diego.agui@libero.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aguilar Marucco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.forename: D Gonzalez
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: de Requena
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cavecchia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinicco
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cariti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Perri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; 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*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a