[Alpha-interferon versus peg-interferon associated to ribavirin in the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus coinfected patients].
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that coinfected patients HCV/HIV must be treated with pegylated interferon associated to ribavirin (PEG+RBV), because of better taxes of sustained virological response when compared to those treated with conventional interferon associated to ribavirin (IFN+RBV). There are few studies in the literature comparing these two treatments options in this population.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sustained virological response to the treatment with IFN+RBV versus PEG+RBV in coinfected patients HCV/HIV genotype 1, in a public health program.


METHODS
It is a cohort study, where the data of the coinfected patients treated with IFN+RBV (before 2002) or PEG+RBV (from 2002) during 48 weeks in the Brazilian Health Ministry program were reviewed. Demographic characteristics were evaluated (age, gender and weight), CD4 cell count and histopathology - inflammatory activity (A) and fibrosis grade, by METAVIR classification. The significance level adopted was 5%.


RESULTS
Eighty one patients were evaluated, 22 treated with IFN+RBV and 59 treated with PEG+RBV. Both were similar relating to age, gender, weight, CD4 cell count and fibrosis grade. Those treated with IFN+RBV presented a greater proportion of A2+A3 patients than those treated with PEG+RBV (P<0.01). The sustained virological response was 14% versus 23% in those using IFN+RBV or PEG+RBV respectively (P = 0.54). The Odds Ratio was 1.9 (0.5 to 7.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Coinfected patients HCV/HIV genotype 1 treated with PEG+RBV presented 1.9 more chance to obtain sustained virological response than those treated with IFN+RBV, however without statistical significance.
Almeida
Paulo Roberto Lerias de
PR
Serviços de Medicina Interna, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS. paulorlalmeida@terra.com.br
Tovo
Cristiane Valle
CV
Rigo
Juliana Oliveira
JO
Zanin
Pauline
P
Alves
Alexandro Vasquen
AV
Mattos
Angelo Alves de
AA
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b