Interferon‐Ribavirin in Association with Stavudine Has No Impact on Plasma Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 Level in Patients Coinfected with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus: A CORIST‐ANRS HC1 Trial

A randomized, open-label trial was performed to study virological and intracellular interactions between stavudine and ribavirin in 30 patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients were randomized to receive either interferon and ribavirin or no treatment for HCV infection for 3 months. Intracellular peripheral blood mononuclear cells' stavudine-triphosphate (TP) concentrations were assessed. Plasma HIV RNA levels did not change significantly between baseline and month 3. There was a nonstatistically significant trend for a lower median residual concentration of intracellular stavudine-TP in the treated group, compared with the control group. The same trend was also observed for peak concentrations. Coprescription of ribavirin and stavudine has no short-term impact on plasma HIV RNA level in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients treated with stavudine as a part of their antiretroviral treatment; this coprescription can be safely used, although an in vivo interaction between ribavirin and stavudine is possible.