Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: The role of ribavirin in the treatment of recent HCV (acute/early chronic) is unclear, particularly in HIV+ individuals. This study evaluated early virological decline during recent HCV therapy in HIV- individuals receiving PEG-IFN monotherapy and HIV+ individuals receiving PEG-IFN/ribavirin. DESIGN:: ATAHC was a non-randomised prospective study of patients with recent HCV. All participants received PEG-IFN (24 weeks); HCV/HIV participants also received ribavirin. Early HCV RNA decline was assessed among adherent participants (>/=80% PEG-IFN, >/=80% treatment). Logistic regression identified predictors of RVR (/=26 weeks and those with unfavourable IL28B genotypes. Adherent HIV negative and positive participants had similar EVR (76 vs. 90%,P = 0.102) and SVR (63% vs. 75%,P = 0.253), respectively. RVR was highly predictive of SVR (AOR 4.09; 1.49, 11.25). CONCLUSION:: The results of this study suggest a potential benefit for PEG-IFN and ribavirin combination therapy in maximizing virological responses in HCV/HIV participants with recent HCV, particularly those with a longer duration of HCV infection and unfavorable IL28B genotypes.