title: Preemptive erythropoietin plus high ribavirin doses to increase rapid virological responses in HIV patients treated for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C affects one-third of HIV(+) patients worldwide. High ribavirin (RBV) exposure is crucial to maximize the response to hepatitis C therapy in this population, although it may increase the risk for hemolytic anemia. PERICO is a prospective multicenter trial in which HIV/HCV-coinfected patients are randomized to receive peginterferon (pegIFN) alfa-2a 180 microg/week plus either weight-based RBV (1000-1200 mg/day) or RBV 2000 mg/day, the latest along with erythropoietin alfa (EPO) 30,000 IU/week from the first day until week 4. A total of 149 patients were assessed in a planned interim analysis at week 4. In both arms, 22% of patients achieved negative HCV-RNA (rapid virological response, RVR). Multivariate analysis [OR (IC 95%), p] showed that factors associated with RVR were HCV genotypes 2/3 vs. 1/4 [20 (5-100), <0.01] and baseline HCV-RNA [0.16 (0.07-0.37) per log IU/ml, <0.01]. The occurrence of severe anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dl) did not differ when comparing RBV vs. high RBV + EPO (7% vs. 3%; p = 0.4). Moreover, RBV plasma trough levels were comparable at week 4 (1.9 vs. 2.4 microg/ml; p = 0.2). Use of high RBV doses with preemptive EPO during the first 4 weeks of hepatitis C therapy is safe, but fails to enhance significantly RBV plasma exposure and RVR rates. Extensive intraerythrocyte accumulation of RBV following boosted production of red blood cells by EPO could explain these findings.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vispo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labarga
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guardiola
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barreiro
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: Koldo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aguirrebengoa
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portu
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Novoa
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a