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ContextTreatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients is a growing concern. Most data on the virologic efficacy and safety of the combination of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in coinfected patients come from uncontrolled studies.ObjectiveTo study the safety and efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin vs standard interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in HIV-HCV coinfected patients.Design and SettingsA multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-label trial. Patients were enrolled from February 2000 to February 2002 and followed up for 72 weeks.PatientsFour hundred twelve HIV-HCV coinfected patients with detectable serum HCV-RNA, abnormal liver histology, a CD4 cell count of at least 200 × 106/L, and stable plasma HIV-RNA.InterventionTreatment with ribavirin 400 mg twice a day, orally, plus either peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5 μg/kg …