Background: No published randomized controlled data on the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in acute hepatitis C (AHC) coinfection exist. However, with the AHC epidemic ongoing among men who have sex with men (MSM) these are urgently needed.
Methods: The CHAT study is a randomized controlled trial of pegylated interferon + ribavirin (PR) plus telaprevir (TVR) for 12-24 weeks versus PR alone for 24-48 weeks in the response-guided treatment of patients with AHC genotype (GT) 1 infection and HIV-1 coinfection in Germany and Great Britain.
Results: 34 patients were included: 15 were randomized to the PR arm (arm 1), 19 to the TVR + PR arm (arm 2). All patients were MSM, median age was 40 years. 55% had IL28B C/C GT. Median baseline HCV RNA was 291,227 IU/ml, median alanine aminotransferase was 105 U/l. 85% received cART, all had baseline HIV RNA <40 copies/ml. Overall sustained virological response (SVR12) rate was 79.4% (27/34). SVR12 was seen in 12/15 (80%) in arm 1 and in 15/19 (79.8%) in arm 2. Of the four patients without SVR in arm 2, one experienced viraI breakthrough, two were non-responders; in one case HCV protease inhibitor (PI)-associated mutations were selected under TVR (V36M, R155K).
Conclusions: Due to moderate response rates and additional toxicities 1st generation HCV PIs should not be used in treating acute HCV. While not being licensed, recent study data and guidelines support the use of dual DAA therapy but optimal treatment duration in acute HCV needs further investigation.