Pegylated Interferon Therapy for Acute Hepatitis C Infection in HIV-infected Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Documented acute hepatitis C infection with detectable HCV-RNA (PCR-assay) and elevated serum alanine transferase (ALT) levels. An acute infection is defined by fulfilling two of the following 3 criteria within the preceding four months: 1. known or suspected exposure to HCV, 2. documented seroconversion to positivity for antibodies against HCV, 3. a serum alanine transferase (ALT) level of more than 350 U/l with a documented normal level during the year before infection. * Documented HIV-infection * CD4 cells \> 300 /µl * Ability to understand and sign a written consent form * Women of child-bearing age: negative pregnancy test Exclusion Criteria: * Autoimmune hepatitis or other autoimmune disease * Decompensated liver disease * Decompensated renal disease, i.e. creatinine clearance \< 50 ml/min, according to Cockcroft-Gault * Acute or chronic hepatitis B infection * Acute infection with hepatitis A or other hepatotropic viruses * New AIDS defining event less than 1 month prior to enrolment * Malignancy other than cutaneous kaposi sarcoma treated with systemic chemo-therapy * History of severe psychiatric conditions, in particular severe depression * History of seizures * History of organ transplantation * Thyroid disease not medically compensable * Severe heart disease * Severe retinopathy * Known allergy to the study drug or one of the galenic compounds * Hypersensitivity to interferon a * Thrombocytes \< 90 G/l, neutrophils \< 1.5 G/l, hemoglobin must not be \< 12g/dl (female) or \< 13 g/dl (male) * Treatment with corticosteroids less than 3 months prior to enrolment * Alcohol abuse or use of other recreational drugs * Older than 65 years of age, younger than 18 years of age * Pregnancy, breast-feeding