Pegylated interferon with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis C in Egyptian patients: efficacy of response in a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Chronic hepatitis C is one of the major causes of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and considered the main indication for liver transplantation. In Egypt, high HCV rates were reported among several population groups reaching up to 20%. Interferon Alfa is the current therapy forchronic hepatitis C .Yet, combination therapy of Alfa interferon and ribavirin is more effective than interferon alone in increasing the response rates. Aim of work is to study efficacy of response in Egyptian patients with chronic active hepatitis C who had received pegylated interferon plus ribavirin as regarding the biochemical and virologic response. The results of this study showed that patients received Pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin had significant improvement in serum ALT levels in around 71% of them. Also 58.94%of these patients achieved sustained clearance of the virus six months after stopping treatment. The combination therapy of Pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin is effective in achieving biochemical and virological responses and is highly recommended as an initial therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C