title: Differences in virological response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin between hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected and HCV-HIV-coinfected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suboptimal doses of ribavirin have been suggested to explain the diminished efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-HIV-coinfected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 104 coinfected patients and an age-, sex- and genotype-matched cohort of HCV-monoinfected patients (n = 104) were compared. All patients received PEG-IFN-alpha2a 180 microg/week plus ribavirin 800-1,200 mg daily (HCV genotype 2/3 patients received 800 mg daily and those with genotype 1/4 received 1,000-1,200 mg daily) for 48 weeks (24 weeks for monoinfected patients with genotypes 2/3). HCV RNA levels were determined qualitatively at weeks 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 and quantified monthly until week 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The coinfected cohort had more advanced liver disease and lower body weight. HCV genotype 1 patients coinfected with HIV showed higher levels of HCV RNA than monoinfected patients. A significantly higher proportion of coinfected patients interrupted the prescribed treatment period prematurely (84% versus 98%). During the first 12 weeks, smaller decreases in HCV RNA levels were observed in coinfected patients. Among patients with HCV genotype 1, coinfected patients achieved lower rates of early virological response (64% versus 87%), end-of-treatment response (47.3% versus 80%) and sustained virological response (SVR; 27.3% versus 56.4%), but not rapid virological response (RVR). HCV-HIV-coinfected patients with HCV genotype 2/3 achieved significantly lower rates of RVR (52% versus 88%). Multivariate analysis identified RVR, gender and liver fibrosis as independent predictors of SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in efficacy of PEG-IFN-alpha2a plus ribavirin treatment between HCV-HIV-coinfected and HCV-monoinfected patients were maintained despite optimized ribavirin dose.
authors.affiliation: HIV Clinical Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Fundació de la Lluita contra la SIDA, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tural
authors.forename: Josep Antón
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Galeras
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Planas
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.forename: Guillem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sirera
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giménez
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Celestino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey-Joly
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cirera
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: Sebastià
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Videla
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Retortillo
authors.forename: Bonaventura
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clotet
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solà
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; 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*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
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