title: Pegylated interferon-alpha for the treatment of sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C in HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C among HIV-positive homosexual men has been noted as an emerging epidemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with mainly sexually acquired, acute hepatitis C were enrolled in this prospective, multicentre trial, and 36 of these patients were treated within the acute phase of hepatitis C infection with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early treatment resulted in sustained virological response in 61% of patients. Peg-IFN alone showed similar treatment response rates and lower incidence of anaemia compared with peg-IFN+ribavirin combination therapy. Higher treatment response rates were observed in patients treated over 48 weeks compared with 24 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of hepatitis C in HIV-positive individuals in the acute phase of infection leads to high rates of sustained virological response. Optimal time and mode of therapy have yet to be defined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nattermann
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumgarten
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klausen
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bieniek
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schewe
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boesecke
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fenske
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schranzo
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kümmerle
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theisen
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: Jürgen K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a