Abstract
We studied hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dynamics in 10 coinfected subjects in a trial of pegylated interferon-alpha2a (PEG-IFN) alone or combined with ribavirin (RBV), compared with IFN plus RBV for the treatment of HCV. Five subjects, 4 of whom were treated with PEG-IFN, achieved a sustained virological response, although it was delayed by >/=1 week in 3 subjects. The median treatment efficacy in blocking virion production was 99.7% in the PEG-IFN group and 60% with standard IFN. In 2 patients with detectable HIV loads before starting HCV study drugs, we observed a 1-log decrease in HIV RNA load. The estimated HCV virion half-life was longer in the HIV-coinfected subjects, which suggests that coinfection may contribute to a slower clearance of HCV. Although the early viral kinetics of coinfected subjects treated with PEG-IFN or IFN differ from those of singly infected subjects, the treatment response seems unaffected.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Alanine Transaminase / blood
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Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
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Biopsy
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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HIV Infections / blood
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HIV Infections / drug therapy
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HIV Infections / immunology
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HIV Infections / virology*
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HIV-1 / physiology*
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Hepacivirus / physiology*
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Hepatitis C / blood
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Hepatitis C / drug therapy
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Hepatitis C / immunology
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Hepatitis C / virology*
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Humans
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
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RNA, Viral / blood
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Recombinant Proteins
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Ribavirin / therapeutic use
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Virus Replication
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha
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RNA, Viral
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Recombinant Proteins
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Polyethylene Glycols
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Ribavirin
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Alanine Transaminase
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peginterferon alfa-2a