Response of Interferon Therapy Plus Ribavirin t ori the Different Grades and Stages of _, Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a major health problem. An estimated 3% of the world population is chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic hepatitis C is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although alpha interferon is the only currently approved therapy for chronic hepatitis C yet, combination therapy of alpha interferon and ribavirin is more effective than interferon alone in increasing the response rates.

This study aimed at showing the response of the combination therapy of interferon alpha plus ribavirin on the different grades and stages of chronic hepatitis C.

The study was conducted on 47 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C, and had elevated levels of serum transaminases and positive HCV RNA by PCR.

All patients were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical examination and laboratory investigations in the form of complete blood picture, complete liver function tests including albumin and prothrombin concentration, hepatitis markers (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb and HCV Ab} and qualitative PCR for HCV RNA, renal function tests, free T3, T4, TSH, serum ferritin, ANA- AMA- ASMA and pregnancy test, abdominal ultrasonography, rectal snip for schistosomiasis, liver biopsy and histopathological examination