title: Interferon combination therapy for HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfection.
abstract: IFN-α has been the cornerstone of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for over a decade. Yet, rates of sustained virologic response of HCV infection to interferon-based therapy, particularly in difficult-to-treat populations, have been disappointingly low. This is particularly true in HIV/HCV coinfection, in which less than a third of patients typically respond to therapy. New HCV protease inhibitors, most of which will need to be administered with pegylated interferon, are in development, but comprehensive, long-term data for their use in coinfected patients is not yet available. Understanding the basis of this population's poor response to interferon-based therapy is crucial to future exploration of new therapeutic options, immunotherapy and prognosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected population.
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. chary@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Aarthi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chary
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holodniy
mesh_terms: D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C050739:interferon alfacon-1; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a