IP-10 predicts the first phase decline of HCV RNA and overall viral response to therapy in patients co-infected with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and HIV

Scand J Infect Dis. 2010 Jul 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Falconer K, Askarieh G, Weis N, Hellstrand K, Alaeus A, Lagging M.

Department of Medicine Solna, Infectious Diseases Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of baseline plasma interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients. Baseline IP-10 was monitored during HCV combination therapy in 21 HIV-HCV co-infected patients (HCV genotype 1 (n = 16), 2 (n = 2), and 3 (n = 3)). Lower baseline IP-10 was significantly associated with a rapid decline in HCV RNA, in particular with the first phase reduction, and similar cut-off levels (<150 and >600 pg/ml) as in HCV mono-infected patients apply. In conclusion, baseline IP-10 <150 pg/ml is predictive of a favourable viral response to HCV therapy in HIV-HCV co-infected patients, and may thus be useful in encouraging such difficult-to-treat patients to initiate therapy

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