Hematological adverse effects in HCV patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a Tertiary Care Hospital Peshawar

ABSTRACT

To know the frequency of common hematological adverse effects during treatment of HCV. Comparative study. This study was carried out OPD of gastroenterology unit HMC Peshawar from November 2013 to August 2014. This study comprising of 42 patients. Patient age more than 17 years, both genders, previously treatment experienced patients with normal hematologic and radiological parameters were included in the study. Patients age more than 70 years, patients with uncontrolled depressive illness, pregnant ladies, treatment naive patients and decompensated cirrhotics were excluded from the study. Patients were evaluated for treatment with pegylated and ribavirin by history, clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, ultrasound abdomen, HCV genotyping and upper GI endoscopy where considered necessary. Patient's who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Total of 42 patients, 24 [57.14%] male and 18 [42.85%] female were included in this study. The mean age was 39.05 +/- 8.54 with minimum age of 18 years and maximum age of 55 years. Genotype 3 was the most frequent genotype, present in 26 [61.90%] patients followed by untypeable genotype, present in 12 [28.57%] patients. Anemia was present in 18 [42.85%], thrombocytopenia in 10 [23.80%] patients. Leucopenia was present in 6 [12.28%] patients. Haematological abnormalities are common during treatment for HCV, so patients should be regularly followed to diagnose and treat the cytopenias in time