Ribavirin Reduces Absolute Lymphocyte Counts in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients Treated with Interferon-Free, Direct-Acting Antiviral Regimens

Abstract

In clinical trials of interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C, subjects who received ribavirin had reduced lymphocyte levels (median decline of approximately 0.4-0.5 × 109 cells/L). A modest decline in CD4+ T cells was observed in subjects with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 coinfection without documented opportunistic infections.