title: [Measurement of hepatitis C virus RNA 12 weeks after treatment predicts sustained virological response in HIV-HCV co-infected patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess whether measurement of hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) at 12 weeks post-treatment could predict sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin) in HIV-co-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-HCV co-infected patients were included if they completed a full course of anti-HCV therapy, achieved an end-of-treatment response and complied with the week +12 and +24 post-treatment follow-up schedule for serum HCV-RNA determination (Real-time HCV (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany) (lower limit of detection, 12 IU/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty out of 66 patients (61%) showed an end-of-treatment response. They were assessed in a follow-up visit at +12 and at +24 weeks post-treatment. Serum HCV-RNA was undetectable in 28 of them at +12 weeks, and 100% of these remained undetectable at 24 weeks post-treatment (the gold standard of (SVR). The positive predictive value was 100% (95% confidence interval, 98.21-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-treatment follow-up to identify virological relapse could be shortened to 12 weeks, providing a new definition of sustained virological response.
authors: Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España. joseantonio.giron@uca.es
authors: José-A
authors: JA
authors: Girón-González
authors: María-José
authors: MJ
authors: Márquez
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Márquez
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Corchado
authors: María-José
authors: MJ
authors: Soto
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Martín-Aspas
authors: Monserrat
authors: M
authors: Montes De Oca
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Guerrero
authors: Clotilde
authors: C
authors: Fernández-Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral