[Chronic hepatitis C and HIV. Current therapeutic options]

Abstract

A co-infection with HCV and HIV promotes the development of liver cirrhosis. The avoidance of this hepatic death-trap is therefore the primary aim of treatment for hepatitis C. Up until the end of the year 2000, the standard therapy for hepatitis C in HIV-negative patients was the combination of interferon alpha and ribaverin. The pegylated interferons that became available last year appear to offer advantages. For patients co-infected with HIV, however, no studies have so far been carried out. Combination "partners" of interferon capable of replacing or supplementing ribaveron are presently in the clinical development stage.