This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin and long-term Peginterferon alfa-2a maintenance therapy for the treatment of HCV infection in persons coinfected with HIV who have failed to achieve a sustained virologic response following pervious interferon therapy. The independent mortality from viral hepatitis associated with the fast progression of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients justifies treating these HCV infected patients, particularly given recent advances regarding the life expectancy of HIV-seropositive patients. Since ribavirin in combination with pegylated alpha interferon has improved treatment results of HCV in HIV-seronegative patients considerably, this therapy should also be considered in HIV-seropositive patients. Additional studies suggest that maintenance interferon shows reduction of inflammation and fibrosis and NIH is currently looking at the roll of maintenance interferon for patients with HCV who fail to respond the interferon-ribavirin (the HALT-C trial).
The aim of this study is similar in patients with HCV coinfected with HIV.
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