title: Baseline CD4 cell count and outcome of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When to start hepatitis C treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients remains unresolved. Our objective was to determine if a baseline CD4 count >/=350 cells/mm predicts a sustained HCV response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicenter cohort study of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated for HIV in hospitals in Nice, Tourcoing, and Marseille (France). Sustained viral response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after treatment. The relation between CD4 cell count and SVR was examined separately for patients with HCV genotype 1 or non-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-five patients were included. In patients with HCV genotype 1, the rate of SVR was 13% and was not related to baseline CD4 cell count (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1 to 9.3). In patients with HCV genotype non-1, the rate of SVR was 46% and was not significantly increased by a baseline CD4 count >/=350 cells/mm (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 0.6 to 5.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher CD4 cell count at treatment initiation with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin did not improve treatment success probability, regardless of HCV genotype.
authors.affiliation: Département de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France. valerio.l@chu-nice.fr
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Yazdan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poizot-Martin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marimoutou
authors.forename: Jean-Albert
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gastaut
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dellamonica
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Freedberg
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pradier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a