[Peg-interferon alfa-2a and highly active antiretroviral drug therapy on hepatitis C patients with AIDS].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effect and side-effect of peg-interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN alfa-2a) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with HCV/HIV co-infection received highly active antiretroviral therapy initially; after their CD4 lymphocyte counts rose to over 0.20x10(9)/L, they were separated into two groups: one group with CD4 lymphocytes over 0.35x10(9)/L (high group) and one group with CD4 lymphocytes below 0.35x10(9)/L (low group). Both groups were given 180 microg of PEG-IFN alfa-2a every week intramuscularly. HCV RNA and HIV RNA loads, blood cell and CD4 lymphocyte counts, and liver functions were routinely examined.


RESULTS
After 12, 24 and 48 weeks of PEG-IFN alfa-2a therapy, mean HCV RNA loads reduced 2.0650 log10 copies/ml (t=3.8733), 2.9146 log10 copies/ml (t=7.6741) and 2.4315 log10 copies/ml (t=5.8202) from the baseline at week 0 in the 13 patients in the high group, and reduced 1.1522 log10 copies/ml (t = 2.8937), 1.4189 log10 copies/ml (t=2.4422) and 1.1167 log10 (t=1.1261) in the 8 patients of the low group. However, there was no significant difference between the early viral response rate (EVR) and the end of treatment viral response rate (ETVR) of the two groups. In the high group, the white blood cell count was lower at 24 weeks than the base line (t=2.4700), and the blood platelet count was lower both at 24 and 48 weeks than the base line (t=2.3273 and t=3.6149).


CONCLUSIONS
PEG-IFN alfa-2a can effectively reduce HCV RNA loads in patients with HCV-/HIV co-infection, and the inhibition rate in patients with higher CD4 lymphocyte counts is better. The EVR and ETVR of the two groups of patients show similar results after the treatment. PEG-IFN alfa-2a can reduce the white blood cell counts and the blood platelet counts in the peripheral blood.
Zhang
Ren-fang
RF
Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
Sun
Hong-qing
HQ
Huang
Qin
Q
Wang
Jiang-rong
JR
Zhang
Xue-xiang
XX
Liu
Xi-nian
XN
Lu
Hong-zhou
HZ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015163:Superinfection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a