Pegylated interferon a2a plus ribavirin versus pegylated interferon a2b plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients

Objectives The two currently available types of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) used to treat hepatitis C have different pharmacokinetic properties. It is unclear how these differences affect response to therapy. We compared the effectiveness and safety of peg-IFN-a2a and peg-IFN-a2b, both with ribav...

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Published in:Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy 2009-06, Vol.63 (6), p.1256-1263
Main Authors: Berenguer, J, Gonzalez-Garcia, J, Lopez-Aldeguer, J, Von-Wichmann, MA, Quereda, C, Hernando, A, Sanz, J, Tural, C, Ortega, E, Mallolas, J, Santos, I, Miralles, P, Montes, M L, Bellon, J M, Esteban, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Hepatitis C virus
Human immunodeficiency virus
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Summary:Objectives The two currently available types of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) used to treat hepatitis C have different pharmacokinetic properties. It is unclear how these differences affect response to therapy. We compared the effectiveness and safety of peg-IFN-a2a and peg-IFN-a2b, both with ribavirin, against chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected patients.Methods From the GESIDA HIV/HCV cohort, we analysed patients treated with peg-IFN-a2a (n = 315) or peg-IFN-a2b (n = 242). The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (SVR).Results Both groups were well matched in baseline characteristics except for a higher frequency of injection drug users in the peg-IFN-a2b group than in the peg-IFN-a2a group (85% versus 76%; P = 0.01) and a higher frequency of bridging fibrosis and cirrhosis (F3-F4) in the peg-IFN-a2b group than in the peg-IFN-a2a group (42% versus 33%; P = 0.04). End-of-treatment response was significantly lower among patients treated with peg-IFN-a2b [40% versus 52%; odds ratio (OR), 1.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.16-2.29; P < 0.01]. However, no significant differences were found in SVR between patients treated with peg-IFN-a2b and those treated with peg-IFN-a2a (31% versus 33%; OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.75-1.59; P = 0.655). Therapy was interrupted due to adverse events in 33 (14%) patients treated with peg-IFN-a2b and 47 (15%) patients treated with peg-IFN-a2a.Conclusions No differences in effectiveness and safety were found between peg-IFN-a2b and peg-IFN-a2a for the treatment of chronic HCV infection in HIV-infected patients.
ISSN:0305-7453
1460-2091
DOI:10.1093/jac/dkp106