title: Response rates to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in HCV/HIV coinfection: a research synthesis.
abstract: Several recent trials have determined varying rates of response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (peg-IFN + RIB) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus-coinfected patients. We sought to identify a pooled response rate and sources of interstudy variability. A literature search was conducted to identify randomized or prospective studies evaluating response rates to peg-IFN + RIB in coinfected patients. A Bayesian hierarchical model was used to estimate overall response rate. Between-study variance was calculated and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Meta-regression was employed to identify sources of between-study variability. The literature search yielded seven studies of 146, which matched keywords and inclusion criteria. The combined patient total was 784. Individual intention-to-treat response rates ranged from 27.3% to 44.2%. The pooled Bayesian estimate of percent response was 33.3%. Significant interstudy heterogeneity was detected. Meta-regression yielded no significant effects of covariates on response rate. Subanalyses by CD4+, HCV viral load and genotype yielded sustained virological response (SVR) odds ratios of 0.73 for low CD4+, 0.41 for high viral load and 0.30 for genotype 1/4. The pooled response rate is not attributable to any one study. Response is poor compared with HCV-monoinfected patients. Interstudy variability is not satisfactorily explained by factors influencing individual response, but may be due to differences between studies unavailable for inclusion in this analysis. However, both genotype 1/4 and high HCV viral load at baseline were significantly associated with a reduction in odds of SVR in pooled subanalysis. Improved treatments are needed in coinfected patients, especially with genotype 1/4 and high viral load.
authors: Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA. norah.shire@uc.edu
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Shire
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Welge
authors: K E
authors: KE
authors: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a