Treatment Outcomes of HCV Infection in People Living with HIV: A Case Series from a Single Center in Korea.

Background: Limited information is available on the clinical course and treatment outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in Korea.

Materials and methods: A retrospective case series was conducted of patients with HIV-HCV coinfection who received interferon (IFN)-based or direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for HCV at a tertiary care hospital between 2000 and 2023. Early virological response (EVR) was defined as a 2-log reduction in HCV RNA levels or undetectable HCV RNA levels at treatment week 12. A sustained virologic response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after treatment completion.

Results: Of the 33 patients with HIV-HCV coinfection, 19 received anti-HCV treatment, of whom 12 received IFN-based treatment and 10 received DAA treatment. The median age at the time of anti-HCV treatment was 49 years (interquartile range, 42-57 years) and 15 patients (79%) were male. Of the 12 patients who received IFN-based anti-HCV treatment, 10 showed EVR and 8 achieved SVR. However, 2 patients who achieved SVR experienced recurrence of HCV infection during follow-up; therefore, the overall success rate of IFN-based treatment was 50% (6/12). All 10 patients (including 3 in whom IFN-based treatment failed) who received DAA treatment (5 with previous anti-HCV treatment and 5 treatment-naïve), achieved SVR and did not experience recurrence of HCV infection during follow-up; therefore, the overall success rate of DAA treatment was 100%.

Conclusion: In Korean patients with HIV-HCV coinfection, treatment outcomes were better with DAA treatment than with IFN-based treatment.