Predictors of response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C from Pakistani population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a major public health issue around the world, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. In this study, we assessed outcome of interferon (INF) treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients categorized by gender, age, and viral load.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, 750 HCV positive patients with genotype 3 were selected, out of which 616 completed the entire treatment. Their personal history, pre-treatment HCV RNA and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was quantified. Patients were treated with combination therapy of INF-α 2b three million units (thrice a week) plus ribavirin (1000 - 1200 mg per day) for 24 weeks. After 24 weeks their HCV RNA and serum ALT level was quantified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of the 616 patients, 391 (63.5%) responded to therapeutic regimen (INF-α 2b plus ribavirin). Among the responders, 27.1% were men and 36.4% were women. Best treatment response was observed in patients having low viral load < 8 × 10(5) IU/ml and age ≤ 40 years than patients having low viral load and age > 40 years (73.2% vs. 60.3%, P = 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Better response to IFN-α 2b plus ribavirin was observed in patients with lower viral RNA and younger age. It suggests that all patients considered for treatment should have quantification of serum HCV RNA level. The result can be used to counsel patients on the likelihood of response and may influence the patient's decision on treatment.</p>

Thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] levels in euthyroid patients with goiter, a clinicopathological study

300 subjects, 39 males and 261 females, between the ages of 6 years and 70 years, were studied at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS] and Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute [NORI] to assess the role of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] in the development of goiter in euthyroid goitrous population of Islamabad and Rawalpindi area. The euthyroid goitrous subjects were selected by clinical Examination. Radioisotope uptake scan was done to confirm the clinical assessment of the status of the thyroid gland. The estimation of the serum levels of the thyroid hormones and TSH was done by Radioimmunoassay [RIA] and the estimation of serum levels of immunoglobulins A, G and M by Radial Immunodiffusion [RID]. TSH was found to be elevated in 9% of the study subjects while immunoglobulins were elevated in 66.67% of the subjects. The results of the study reveal the goitrogenic role of TSH in a small portion, while immunological phenomenon appears to be active in a significant portion of the euthyroid goitrous population of Islamabad and Rawalpindi area