Hepatitis C; frequency of thrombocytopenia patients treated with interferon

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of thrombocytopenia and its manifestations in patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection treated with interferon and ribavirin. In door and out door patients. Case series. Department of Medicine PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi, from 1[st] August 2006 to 1[st] July 2007. A Proforma was designed to enter the data of 100 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria included in the study. Adult patients between the ages of 18 and 50 years of both gender were selected. Presence of anti HCV antibodies, elevated serum alanine transaminase, a positive polymerase chain reaction for hepatitis C ribonucleic acid and compensated liver disease were prerequisites. All patients were treated with combination of interferon and ribavirin. Blood counts, alanine transaminase and prothrombin time were done at baseline and at 2, 4 and 8 weeks intervals after starting interferon. A drop in platelets count below 100,000/cmm was taken as interferon induced thrombocytopenia. In our study thrombocytopenia occurred in 1 1% patients. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia [platelet counts < 50,000] occurred in 01 patient out of hundred in which there was severe gum bleeding and purpura so antiviral treatment was discontinued. Grade 2 thrombocytopenia [platelet counts between 50,000-75,000] was observed in 03% patients but there were no bleeding episodes, 50% reduction dose was done in these patients. Grade 1 thrombocytopenia [platelet counts between 75,000- 100,000] was noticed in 07% patients but there were no bleeding manifestations and dose reduction was not done. Combination therapy is well tolerated, however, it can cause life threatening complications like bleeding episodes in a few patients. Bleeding complications and manifestations as a result of thrombocytopenia are uncommon