title: The association of cytopenias and weight loss with hepatitis C virus virologic response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with PEG-IFN and RBV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV)-related cytopenias have been associated with improved virological outcomes among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected patients. This analysis evaluated PEG-IFN/RBV-related cytopenias with virological responses among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pooled data from PARADIGM and AIDS Pegasys Ribavirin International CO-infection Trial (APRICOT) trials of HIV/HCV-infected patients treated with PEG-IFN/RBV. Virologic response was categorized as HCV RNA detectable (end of treatment nonresponders [ET-NR]) or nondetectable (end of treatment responders [ETR]). Declines in hemoglobin (Hgb), platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and weight between the groups were compared via analysis of covariance and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 474 patients, 291 ET-NR and 183 ETR (67 relapsers, 116 with sustained virologic response), 81% male, 52% Caucasian, 88% noncirrhotic, and 67% nondetectable HIV. The ETR experienced greater Hgb declines (≥3.0 g/dL) from baseline (73.8% versus 55.0%; P < .0001), neutrophils ≤1 and ≤ 0.5 × 10(9)/L (66.1% versus 56.4%; P = .0334 and 42.6% versus 33.3%; P = .0312, respectively), and lymphocytes ≤1.5 and ≤0.5 × 10(9)/L (99.5% versus 87.6%; P < .0001 and 24.6% versus 14.9%; P =.0079, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with ETR experienced greater declines in Hgb, neutrophils, and lymphocytes than the ET-NR patients.
authors.affiliation: St Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jihad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mildvan
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: HCV treatment; HIV/HCV coinfection; anemia; cytopenia; lymphopenia; neutropenia