Antiviral Treatment Eligibility

Pretreatment Counseling

1. Cessation of alcohol use
2. Likelihood of achieving SVR
3. Side effects of therapy
4. Interferon
• Flulike symptoms
• Bone marrow suppression (greater with peginterferon)
• Aggravation of autoimmune disorders
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms
• Seizures
• Acute cardiac and renal failure
• Retinopathy
• Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis
5. Ribavirin
• Hemolytic anemia
• Significant teratogen
• Rashes
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• GI effects
6. Contraception
• Adequate contraception needed during treatment and for 6 months after completion of treatment
7. Importance of adherence

Next: Antiretroviral Treatment Strategy