{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.05939226519337017, 'fraction_numerical': 0.054558011049723756, 'mean_word_length': 5.113924050632911, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 2, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Risk factors for anaemia in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus‐coinfected patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin

Summary.  The most frequent and the most troublesome adverse effect of interferon plus ribavirin‐based therapy is anaemia. The aim of this analysis was to determine the incidence and risk factors of anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐coinfected patients receiving anti‐HCV therapy. We reviewed all cases of anaemia occurring among 416 patients participating in a randomized, controlled 48‐week trial comparing peginterferon (peg‐IFN) alpha 2b plus ribavirin with interferon alpha‐2b plus ribavirin. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify links with antiretroviral treatments, HCV therapy and clinical and laboratory findings. Sixty‐one (15.9%) of the 383 patients who received at least one dose of anti‐HCV treatment developed anaemia. In multivariate analysis the risk of anaemia was significantly associated with zidovudine (OR, 3.27 95% CI, 1.64–6.54, P = 0.0008) and peg‐IFN (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.16–4.57, P = 0.0179). The risk of anaemia was lower in patients with higher baseline haemoglobin levels (OR, 0.35 95% CI, 0.26–0.49, P < 0.0001) and in patients receiving protease inhibitor‐based antiretroviral therapy (OR, 0.51 95% CI, 0.30–0.86, P = 0.0114). Zidovudine discontinuation could help to avoid anaemia associated with anti‐HCV therapy.