TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Background/Aims: The incidence of hepatitis C infection is increased i n subjects with human immunodeficiency virus infection, although the r elative frequency of hepatitis b infection is higher than that hepatit is c. The present study assessed the effect of IFN-alpha on chronic he patitis C in HN infected patients. Material and Methods: Twenty patien ts with chronic hepatitis C, nine positive for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus and eleven HIV-seronegative, were treated with interferon alpha-2b. Results: Five HIV-positive patients responded to therapy with a complete (three) or partial (two) remission of hepatit is at the end of treatment. A sustained response was achieved in four patients. From the HN-negative patients eight responded with a complet e (six) or partial (true) remission. The response teas sustained in si x patients. Hepatitis C virus-RNA became ate feast temporarily undetec table in three HIV-positive and six HIV-negative patients. No severe t oxicity of interferon treatment was seen in. either the HIV-positive o r the HIV-negative patients. Conclusion: The present results indicate that interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-positive patie nts is successful in. a considerable number of individuals. However it might be inferior to the results in HIV-negative patients.