Peginterferon Alfa-2a plus Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Infected Patients

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 351; no. 5; pp. 438 - 450
• Main Authors: Torriani, Francesca J, Rodriguez-Torres, Maribel, Rockstroh, Jürgen K, Lissen, Eduardo, Gonzalez-García, Juan, Lazzarin, Adriano, Carosi, Giampiero, Sasadeusz, Joseph, Katlama, Christine, Montaner, Julio, Sette, Hoel, Passe, Sharon, De Pamphilis, Jean, Duff, Frank, Schrenk, Uschi Marion, Dieterich, Douglas T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 29.07.2004
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; AIDS; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiviral Agents - adverse effects; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; General aspects; Genotype; Hepacivirus - drug effects; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Polyethylene Glycols; Recombinant Proteins; Ribavirin - adverse effects; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; RNA, Viral - blood; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viral hepatitis; Infection; Medicine; Immunopathology; Chronic; Peginterferon alfa-2a; Viral disease; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Ribavirin; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa040842

In this randomized trial involving patients with chronic hepatitis C who were also infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin was more effective than interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin or peginterferon alfa-2a plus placebo (rates of sustained virologic response, 40 percent, 12 percent, and 20 percent, respectively). The rates of response were not as high as in previous studies involving HIV-negative patients. Potent antiretroviral therapy has reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 1 , 2 At the same time, the pattern of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected persons has shifted, and clinicians responsible for the care of HIV-infected persons have been confronted with new challenges. Complications associated with concurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have emerged as one of the most frequent and complex issues in the care of patients with HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 3 , 4 The current standard of care for chronic infection with HCV in persons without other infections is pegylated . . .