Treatment with recombinant α‐interferon of chronic hepatitis C in anti‐HIV‐positive patients

A pilot study of chronic hepatitis C treatment was conducted in 14 patients (13 had chronic active hepatitis and 1 had liver cirrhosis). All patients were asymptomatic for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (mean CD4 count of 584 ± 283 cells/mm 3 ). Patients received 9 MU rlFN‐α2A per day for three months. After this, patients received 9 MU three times weekly for three months, 6 MU for another three months on the same protocol, and finally 3 MU again three times weekly for the last three months. After the first month of ALT treatment in 9 patients (64%) returned to normal; a significant decrease in ALT levels was observed with respect to the pretreatment values (mean of 42 lU/l, range 15–75 vs 152 IUI, range 69–355; P < 0.01). Of the 9 patients who completed the treatment period, 5 had a complete response, and 4 of these 5 continued with normal ALT values during follow‐up (sustained response) while the other patient relapsed within one month after cessation of therapy. The remaining 4 patients were non‐responders (including one case with a break‐through of the response). HCV‐RNA was not detectable in 3 of the 5 responders at the end of therapy while during follow‐up viral RNA became undetectable in the other 2 patients. 2/4 non‐responder patients had detectable HCV‐RNA during follow‐up. Liver histology improved in all the patients. No changes were observed in the immunological status or HIV infection. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.