Objectives: An increased risk of drug-related liver injury has been repeatedly reported in individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) receiving the antiretroviral drug nevirapine. This study was undertaken to assess the differences in the pharmacokinetics of nevirapine between patients with HIV/HCV coinfection and HIV infection that could explain higher rates of hepatotoxicity.
Methods: A 12 h pharmacokinetic analysis was performed in 18 patients: 7 HIV/HCV-coinfected and 11 HIV-monoinfected. Advanced liver disease was an exclusion criterion in order to assess the impact of chronic HCV infection alone.
Results: Comparing the two groups, no difference was observed between minimum and maximum drug levels or total drug exposure in terms of area under the curve.
Conclusions: Hepatitis C coinfection does not alter the pharmacokinetics of nevirapine in patients with preserved liver function.