Viral Interaction and Responses in Chronic Hepatitis C and B Coinfected Patients with Interferon-Alpha plus Ribavirin Combination Therapy

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Abstract
Background/aims: We conducted a case-control study to investigate the efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C and B virus (HCV/HBV) coinfection and to elucidate the interaction of these two viruses. Methods: Forty-two chronic HCV/HBV-coinfected patients (29 IFN-naive, 13 IFN-relapsed) and 84 HCV-monoinfected controls, matched for age, sex and previous history of IFN-α therapy, were enrolled. All patients were treated with IFN-α-2b 6 MU three-times weekly plus ribavirin 1000–1200 mg daily for 24 weeks. Serum HCV RNA and HBV DNA were determined every 24 weeks for 72 weeks. Results: The rate of HCV sustained virological response (SVR) was comparable among IFN-naive and IFN-relapsed HCV/HBV-coinfected patients and IFN-naive and IFN-relapsed HCV-monoinfected patients (69.0%, 69.2%, 67.2% and 57.7%, respectively; intention-to-treat analysis). HCV genotype 1b, high pretreatment HCV RNA levels and liver fibrosis were significantly associated with a lower HCV SVR. Of 16 baseline HBV viraemic patients, five (31.3%) achieved HBV SVR, which correlated negatively to HCV genotype non-1b and HCV SVR. Only one (6.3%) had simultaneous seroclearance of HCV and HBV. Antibodies to HBV surface antigen seroconversion developed in five (11.9%) patients during long-term follow-up. HCV responders had significantly higher rates of HBV DNA resurgence than HCV non-responders during and after treatment. Reciprocal viral interference was noted between HCV and HBV after IFN-α/ribavirin therapy. Conclusions: IFN-α/ribavirin combination therapy is effective for HCV/HBV-coinfected patients in eradicating HCV infection and might promote HBV seroclearance, and there is a mutual viral response and reciprocal viral interaction between HBV and HCV.

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