A Randomized-Controlled, Comparative Study, To Evaluate the Efficacy of Tailored Regimen of Peginterferon Alfa Plus Ribavirin According to Rapid Virological Response and Baseline Viral Loads in the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C/Hepatitis B Co-Infection: A Pilot Study (Pioneer)

This is an open label, randomized-controlled, comparative trial. HBV and HCV dually infected patients with negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were enrolled in the study. The definition of HBV and HCV dual infection included seropositivity of HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and HBsAg for more than 6 months, together with positive serum HCV RNA. Eligible subjects were randomized into 2 groups at treatment initiation. Subjects who were randomized into the genotype guided therapy (GGT) group received Peg-IFN and standard dose RBV (1200 mg/day) for 48 weeks in subjects infected with HCV genotype 1 or Peg-IFN and low dose RBV (800 mg/day) for 24 weeks in subjects infected with HCV genotype 2/3; the patients were then followed for 6 months. For subjects who were randomized into the response guided therapy (RGT) group, the duration of Peg-IFN and RBV therapy was abbreviated to 24 weeks in subjects with HCV genotype 1, a pre-treatment low viral load (LVL, < 400000 IU/mL) and RVR (defined asHCV RNA <50 IU/mL at 4th week of therapy); the duration was 16 weeks in subjects with HCV genotype 2/3 and RVR.