title: HCV clearance from saliva of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients on treatment with interferon plus ribavirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA clearance from blood and saliva of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients undergoing combined therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN-RIB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study group was formed of 60 HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C who were starting treatment with PEG-IFN-RIB. Blood and saliva samples were taken at baseline, at the end of treatment and 24 and 48 weeks later. A nested RT-PCR technique was used to detect HCV-RNA in saliva.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV-RNA was detected in saliva at baseline in 64.7% of patients. Thirty-four patients completed follow-up. The response rate (undetectable HCV-RNA) in blood was 79.4% at the end of treatment; 55.8% at 24 weeks after the end of treatment and 50% at 48 weeks. HCV was detected in saliva of 13 (38.2%) patients at the end of treatment and in 18 (52.9%) patients at 24 and 48 weeks later. Concordance of HCV clearance from blood and saliva reached its maximum value at 48 weeks after the end of treatment (odds ratio, 112.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In HIV-HCV-coinfected patients responders to PEG-IFN-RIB, the salivary glands do not appear to be a sanctuary site for HCV, although viral clearance from saliva may be slower than from blood.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Odontología Médico-Quirúrgica (OMEQUI), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feijoo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eirea
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Limeres
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abeleira
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: clearance; hepatitis C virus; human immunodeficiency virus; interferon; saliva