Interferon-ribavirin in association with stavudine has no impact on plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 level in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus: a CORIST-ANRS HC1 trial.

Author(s): Salmon-Ceron D, Lassalle R, Pruvost A, Benech H, Bouvier-Alias M, Payan C, Goujard C, Bonnet E, Zoulim F, Morlat P, Sogni P, Perusat S, Treluyer JM, Chene G, CORIST-ANRS HC1 Study Group

Affiliation(s): Department of Internal Medicine, Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Assistance Publique, Hopitaux de Paris, 75014 Paris-France. dominique.salmon@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr

Publication date & source: 2003-05-15, Clin Infect Dis., 36(10):1295-304. Epub 2003 May 9.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized, open-label trial was performed to study virological and intracellular interactions between stavudine and ribavirin in 30 patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients were randomized to receive either interferon and ribavirin or no treatment for HCV infection for 3 months. Intracellular peripheral blood mononuclear cells' stavudine-triphosphate (TP) concentrations were assessed. Plasma HIV RNA levels did not change significantly between baseline and month 3. There was a nonstatistically significant trend for a lower median residual concentration of intracellular stavudine-TP in the treated group, compared with the control group. The same trend was also observed for peak concentrations. Coprescription of ribavirin and stavudine has no short-term impact on plasma HIV RNA level in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients treated with stavudine as a part of their antiretroviral treatment; this coprescription can be safely used, although an in vivo interaction between ribavirin and stavudine is possible.