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Ask the Experts about Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection
Last Feb my CD4 count was 99 and just last April it was 163. I stop interferon treatment last Feb (after 6 months) but my doctor insist to finish the 48 weeks treatment. Should I continue interferon?
I am a bit treatment naive and paranoid about getting OI's.
Thanks a lot
Rico
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Response from Dr. McGovern
I am unclear if you are currently on your third month of interferon treatment or not. If so, I would want to know your HCV RNA level on treatment to determine if you should continue interferon and ribavirin therapy. If suppressed at 12 weeks, I would continue; if not, I would stop.
An important issue is to follow your CD4 percentage which can be more informative. If your CD4% is 15% or more, you will probably do okay.
If your CD4 percentage if low (eg, 10% or less), then I would certainly think about starting prophylaxis. If you are developing thrush or other problems, then you would want to start HIV treatment even earlier - regardless of CD4 count.
I would also
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