Coinfection with hepatitis C virus and schistosomiasis: Fibrosis and treatment response

Table 1 Inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

Age ≥ 18 yr and ≤ 60 yr

Positive HCV antibodies and detectable HCV RNA by PCR

Positive liver biopsy for chronic hepatitis with F1 METAVIR score and elevated liver enzymes or F2/F3 METAVIR score

Naïve to treatment with PEG-IFN and RIB

Hepatitis B surface antigen negativity

Normal complete blood count, normal thyroid function, prothrombin concentration ≥ 60%, normal bilirubin, α-fetoprotein < 100 (ng/mL) and antinuclear antibody titer < 1/160

Exclusion criteria

Serious co-morbid conditions such as severe arterial hypertension, heart failure, significant coronary heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes (hemoglobin A1C > 8.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Major uncontrolled depressive illness

Solid transplant organ (renal, heart, or lung)

Untreated thyroid disease

History of previous anti-HCV therapy

Body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m²

Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection

Hypersensitivity to one of the two drugs (PEG-IFN, RIB)

Concomitant liver disease other than hepatitis C (chronic hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, hemochromatosis, α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson’s disease)

Liver biopsy showing severe steatosis (> 66%) and steatohepatitis, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma or METAVIR score F4

HCV: Hepatitis C virus; PCR: Polymerase chain reaction; PEG-IFN: Pegylated-interferon; RIB: Ribavirin.