There was no influence of IL28B genotype on the virological responses. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00553930 Introduction Although data on which to base definitive selleck chem recommendations on the dosing and duration of therapy for co-infected patients are limited, the current standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 3 (G3) is the combination of weekly 180 ��g pegylated interferon-�� (pegIFN-��) 2a or 1.5 ��g/kg pegIFN-�� 2b and 800 mg daily ribavirin (Rbv) for 48 weeks [1], [2]. This recommendation is based on a few randomized trials with both pegIFN-�� 2a [3] and pegIFN-�� 2b [4]�C[7] and several cohort studies [8]�C[10] in which sustained virologic response (SVR) rates between 34% and 82% were observed.
In addition, as the HCV protease inhibitors are less active against G3 [11], the combination of pegIFN-�� and Rbv will remain the key drugs for this genotype. Besides, both pegIFN-�� formulations are associated with large interpatient variability in plasma concentrations after specific doses [12], [13]. Previously, we evaluated the influence of pegIFN-�� 2a plasma concentrations on the virologic response in HCV/HIV coinfected patients and, in contrast to G1/4, we found no association between pegIFN-��-2a levels and SVR in patients with G3 [14]. This fact, along with the similar SVR rate achieved for these G with lower doses of pegIFN-�� 2a or 2b monotherapy [15]�C[17], suggest that the pegIFN-��-2a levels achieved with the 180 ��g weekly doses were in the plateau portion of the concentration�Cresponse curve for patients with G3.
On the other hand, the current standard treatment is associated with frequent and, sometimes, severe adverse events (AEs) and requires an extended duration of therapy. Therefore, a goal must be to find the minimal dose and duration that is effective for achieving SVR, decreasing the incidence or severity of AEs and enhancing adherence, particularly in HIV-coinfected patients in whom the treatment of HCV infection has been associated with a high rate of intolerance. In this study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a lower pegIFN-�� 2a dose (135 ��g) plus flat dose ribavirin with shorter therapy duration (20 weeks after attaining undetectable serum HCV-RNA) in a cohort of HIV-coinfected patients with CHC G3.
In this study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a lower pegIFN-�� 2a dose (135 ��g) plus flat dose ribavirin with shorter therapy duration (20 weeks after attaining undetectable serum HCV-RNA) in a cohort of HIV-coinfected patients with CHC G3. After the study had begun, it was known that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) nearby the IL28B gene are strong predictors of response Anacetrapib to pegIFN-��-2a plus Rbv treatment in CHC [18], [19]. So, we additionally assessed the influence of IL28B rs12979860 polymorphisms on the virological response to this regimen.