Rates and predictors of response to anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C virus in HIV/HCV co-infection in a nationwide study of 619 patients.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV/HCV co-infected patients in 'real world', clinical practice is unclear.

AIMS: To determine the rates and predictors of sustained virological response (SVR) to anti-viral treatment for HCV with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

METHODS: We identified all HIV/HCV co-infected patients who received anti-viral treatment with PEG-IFN and ribavirin in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system nationally between 2002 and 2009 (n = 665).

RESULTS: Sustained virological response was achieved in 21.6% overall, 16.7% among patients with genotype 1 HCV (n = 491) and 44% among patients with genotype 2 or 3 HCV (n = 116). Among genotype 1-infected patients, characteristics that were negatively associated with SVR independently included baseline HCV viral load >2 million IU/mL [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.41, 95% CI 0.2-0.7], Black race [AOR 0.56 (0.3-0.96)], diabetes [AOR 0.42 (0.2-0.9)], baseline anaemia [AOR 0.42 (0.2-0.97)], serum aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio ≥1.2 [AOR 0.48 (0.2-0.97)] and use of zidovudine [AOR 0.41 (0.2-0.9)]; characteristics positively associated with SVR included a starting dose of ribavirin ≥1000-1200 mg/day [AOR 2.0 (1.1-3.7)] and erythropoietin use during treatment [AOR 2.9 (1.6-5.0)]. Among genotype 2 or 3 infected patients, only erythropoietin use was an independent predictor of SVR [AOR 3.1 (1.2-7.8)], while a starting dose of ribavirin >800 mg/day was not associated with SVR.

CONCLUSIONS: Sustained virological response rates achieved with PEG-IFN and ribavirin in HIV/HCV co-infected patients are low in clinical practice. The use of erythropoietin was the most important, modifiable factor associated with SVR.