Efficacy of combination therapy of interferon-α and ribavirin for HIV/HCV co-infected patients in a six-year follow-up

To discuss the long-term clinical effects of combination therapy of interferon-α and ribavirin for HIV/HCV co-infected patients, HIV/HCV co-infected patients were divided into two groups, a control group and a treatment group. The treatment group received combination therapy of interferon-α and ribavirin for six months. Lab results from each subject including were assessed at baseline and at the end of the six-month treatment. The observation continued for 72 months, with check-ups every 12 months after the treatment. The lab results of ALT, AST, PLT CD4⁺T lymphocyte and CD8⁺T lymphocytes for the treatment group were significantly different than the control group at six months and in the following six-year check-ups (P<;0.05). Combination therapy of interferon-α and ribavirin for HIV/HCV co-infected patients could inhibit the repeat elevation of transaminase in the long-term, and increase the number of CD4⁺T lymphocytes, which may decelerate the progression of hepatic cirrhosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.