Response of Interferon alone and with Ribavirin in patients of chronic HepatitisC

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to compare the response of interferon alone and interferon plus ribavirin in patients of chronic hepatitis C. Design: A case control interventional prospective study. Place and Duration of Study Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2000 to January 2001. Materials and Sixty patients of chronic hepatitis C were selected on the basis of raised ALT, presence of antiHCV antibodies, detection of viral RNA on PCR and liver biopsy. They were divided into 3 groups. Group I constituted 20 patients who received treatment of interferon alpha alone. Group II included 20 patients who received combination therapy of Interferon alpha and ribavirin. Group III included 20 patients, who were unwilling for treatment due to personal reasons and were used as control group. Patients were then closely observed for 1 year for efficacy and safety of the treatment. At completion of treatment HCV'RNA levels in serum were not detectable in 15 of 20 [75%] patients who received interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy as compared to 10 of 20 [50%] patients who received interferon alpha alone. Only 1 patient became HCV RNA negative in the control group. Normalization of ALT concentration and histologic response was proportionate to the virological response. Combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin is more effective than treatment with interferon alone for minimizing viral load, improving ALT levels and histology