The role of interferon-alpha in the immunological response against the background of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C in patients with HCV/HIV co-infection

Abstract

Background. Analyzed interrelations of clinical and laboratory effects of interferon-alpha (IFNa) and the content of T-helper cells in patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the background of antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Methods. Observed 289 people (182 men and 107 women) aged 35,0±4,7 years co-infected with HCV/HIV receiving pegylated IFNa-2a and ribavirin for 48 weeks. Results. Sustained virological response (without the presence of HCV genome in serum) was registered in 172 cases, and the effectiveness of treatment of chronic hepatitis C among all patients was at the level of 59.5 %. On the background of antiviral treatment for hepatitis up to the 12^th week of the number of CD4+ T cells was significantly reduced in all patients regardless of the presence or absence of antiretroviral therapy. Conclusions. A significant increase in the level of IFNa in blood of patients with the administration of pegylated IFNa-2a implements mechanisms of its negative impact on the course of HIV infection, causing fluctuations in levels of CD4+ lymphocytes.