Treating Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Coinfected Patients

Coinfected patients who have a rapid or early virologic response to HCV treatment are likely to have a sustained response.

Little is known about the optimal approach to treating acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-positive patients. To address this issue, investigators evaluated data from HIV-positive patients at four European clinics who had a first episode of acute HCV infection between 2001 and 2006. All 150 study participants were men, and most had acquired HCV through male-to-male sexual activity.

Twelve weeks after HCV diagnosis, 14 patients had undetectable HCV RNA levels (<600 IU/mL) and thus did not initiate treatment; of these, 11 continued to have undetectable levels at 48 weeks. Of the remaining patients, 25 refused treatment, and 111 started peginterferon (97 with ribavirin) for 24 or 48 weeks, depending on individual clinic protocols.

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Reviewing Author

Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Treating Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Coinfected Patients

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Reviewing Author