Pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment is rarely a pleasant experience, but the best chance of having to go through it only once for hepatitis C is to take its required medications exactly as prescribed, according to new data involving individuals coinfected with HIV published in AIDS and Behavior and reported by aidsmap. According to the study, which involved a review of 333 U.S. veterans coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C who received pegylated interferon/ribavirin treatment between 2001 and 2006, those with the highest levels of adherence to both medications during the first 36 weeks of treatment were significantly more likely to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR), or viral cure. Roughly 27 percent of the coinfected patients with genotype 1 or 4 in the review achieved an SVR. “Future studies should examine additional risk factors for non-adherence and evaluate interventions to maximize adherence to HCV therapy in this population,” the researchers conclude.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.