INFLUENCE OF HIV-INFECTION ON THE RESPONS E TO INTERFERON TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of HIV infection o n the response to alpha IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Fifteen p atients were included : 7 patients co-infected by HVC and HIV in group A and 8 patients only infected by HVC. Mean CD4 cell/mm 3 was 433 (ra nge 44 to 1073) in these patients of group A. The patients were compar ed for biochemical markers (ALT). histological markers and virological markers (VHC-PCR). All patients were treated for 6 months at 3 MIU th rice weekly. Complete response was observed in 1 patient of group A an d in 5 patients of group B. Partial response was observed in 5 patient s of group A and in 1 patient of group B. No response was observed in 1 patient of group A and in 2 patients of group B. Negativation of the HVC RNA was observed in 1 patient of group A and in 5 patients of gro up B. Persistant positivity was observed in 5 patients of group A and in 1 patient of group B. Transient negativation was observed in 1 pati ent of group A and in 2 patients of group B. Further studies are neede d to determine the optimal therapeutic strategy of HVC infection in HI V infected patients.