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Role of Pegylated Interferon‐α‐2a and Ribavirin Concentrations in Sustained Viral Response in HCV/HIV‐Coinfected Patients
Author(s) -
LopezCortes LF,
ValeraBestard B,
GutierrezValencia A,
RuizValderas R,
Jimenez L,
Arizcorreta A,
Terrón A,
Viciana P
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.2008.110
Subject(s) - ribavirin , pegylated interferon , medicine , hepatitis c virus , viral load , hepatitis c , clinical pharmacology , virology , immunology , pharmacology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , gastroenterology , virus
The effect of simultaneous plasma concentrations of pegylated interferon‐α‐2a (pegIFN‐α‐2a) and ribavirin (Rbv) on viral response has not been addressed to date. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–coinfected patients received pegIFN‐α‐2a and Rbv under routine clinical care conditions. Plasma concentrations of the two drugs were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and high‐performance liquid chromatography after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and at the end of the treatment period (24–48 weeks, according to HCV genotype and treatment duration). Large interindividual variability was observed in the plasma levels of both drugs. After multivariate analysis, only HCV genotype 3, low HCV‐RNA levels, and pegIFN‐α‐2a exposure remained as independent factors associated with sustained viral response (SVR). The probability of attaining an SVR in HCV genotypes 1 and 4 was more than three to four times higher in patients with pegIFN‐α‐2a levels above the selected cutoff point. Early therapeutic drug monitoring of pegIFN‐α‐2a levels could be beneficial in improving current treatment outcomes. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2008); 84 , 5, 573–580 doi: 10.1038/clpt.2008.110