Antiretroviral activity of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients co-infected with HIV/hepatitis C virus

Objectives: To evaluate the early anti-HIV activity of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a and ribavirin in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy. Patients and methods: In 19 patients with baseline plasma HIV load (HIV-RNA) >1000 copies/mL treated with PEG-IFN alfa-2a and ribavirin, HIV-RNA and T-cell subsets were measured at baseline and 2, 4 and 12 weeks after initiation of anti-HCV therapy. Results: We observed a significant HIV-RNA decrease (>1 log 10 copies/mL) through week 12 of anti-HCV treatment. The magnitude of HIV-RNA decline was associated with baseline HIV-RNA, CD4 count and PEG-IFN weight-adjusted dose. Conclusions: A significant early anti-HIV activity of PEG-IFN alfa-2a was observed. Such an effect warrants further clinical evaluation in the management of co-infected patients.