Purpose / DescriptionIn this phase 2 trial involving patients coinfected with HCV and HIV, investigators  randomized 133 subjects to receive a 48-week treatment course with either peginteferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin or standard interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin. The ribavirin, was administered in both arms as a gradual dose escalation of 600 mg/day for 4 weeks, 800 mg/day for 4 weeks, and then 1000 mg/day thereafter. Among study participants, 86% were on antiretroviral therapy and 10% had cirrhosis. Treatment with peginteferon alfa-2a was associated with higher SVR rate than with standard interferon alfa-2a (27% versus 12%, p=0.03). Premature discontinuation occurred in 12% of patients in each arm. This study clearly established that peginteferon alfa-2a and ribavirin was superior to standard interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in persons coinfected with HCV and HIV.