RESUMO
Background: Chronic hepatitis C is common in our country and before development of decompensation, it is treated with interferon and ribavirin. This is a costly treatment and many patients remain untreated due to financial constraints
Objective: To determine end of treatment response [ETR] to combination of standard interferon and ribavirin [non original brands] provided through Prime Minister program for prevention and control of hepatitis in management in chronic hepatitis C in our setup
Patients and Methods: This interventional study was carried out in medical outpatient clinic of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, from August 2006 to February 2009. Adult patients [more than 18 years of age] suffering from HCV RNA positive chronic hepatitis were enrolled. Patients were given standard interferon 3 mu s/c thrice a week and ribavirin 800-1200 mg per day for 24 weeks. Four different brands of drugs were used. HCV RNA by qualitative PCR was tested at the end of treatment. End of treatment response was defined as absence of viral RNA
Results: 260 patients of chronic hepatitis C were enrolled. 148 patients were male and 112 were female. Their mean age was 34.11 +/- 9.18 years. Mean baseline serum ALT of these patients was 91.44 +/- 63.00. 217 patients [83.5%] achieved ETR. There was no statistically significant difference in ETR between various brands of interferon and ribavirin. Moreover, there was no significant difference in gender, age and ALT between patients who achieve ETR and those who did not achieve it
Conclusion: Combination treatment with non original brands standard interferon and ribavirin provided through Prime Minister program for prevention and control of hepatitis is effective in our patients with chronic hepatitis C