Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients with Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin

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Abstract
One hundred six HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were randomized to receive ribavirin (RBV) 400 mg bid plus interferon α-2b (IFN-α) at two different doses, 3 mU tiw (control arm) or 5 mU daily for the first 6 weeks, followed by 3 mU tiw until completing 6 months of therapy (induction arm). All patients had CD4 counts above 350 cells/μl and 89% were taking antiretroviral therapy. Adverse effects leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 12.3% of patients, a rate quite similar to that seen in HCV-monoinfected patients. Negative serum HCV-RNA values (α combination therapy. Since HCV-related liver disease is currently one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients, new treatment options are urgently needed for coinfected individuals.