Within that group, 14 patients had acquired HCV prior to HIV infection, hereafter referred to as group A and 14 patients had acquired HIV prior to HCV, hereafter referred to as group B. All patients were on cART and initiated a 48 week pegylated-IFN-α 2a or 2b + ribavirin therapy according to the Canadian guidelines at the time as detailed in Materials and Methods. Here, IFNA1 is linked to HIV infectious disease.