Higher Response Rate of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C to Combination of Conventional Interferon and Ribavirin

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is a common problem world-wide In developed countries pegylated interferon is used for treatment of hepatitis C and has been shown to be superior to conventional interferon. However, pegylated interferon is very costly and is beyond the reach of majority of the patients in our country. Objective: To look into the response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to treatment with conventional interferon given in combination with ribavirin. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Dera Ismail Khan from April 2004 to April 2008, involving patients attending either medical OPD of District Headquarter Teaching Hospital or consulting physicians of this hospital at their private clinics. Two hundred and fifty adult patients, both male and female, eligible for therapy were studied after informed consent. Interferon alfa 2b was given in a dose of 3 million units subcutaneously thrice a week alongwith ribavirin 800 to 1200 mg daily in divided doses for a period of 24 weeks. Patients were tested for absence of detectable HCV RNA by PCR at the end of treatment (end of treatment response) and 24 weeks after completion of therapy (sustained virological response). Results: In this study, 84% patients showed end of treatment response and 72.8% manifested a sustained virological response. There was no significant difference between the two sexes in their response to treatment.. Conclusion: The response rate of patients with chronic hepatitis C to conventional interferon and ribavirin combination is high in our area compared to many studies conducted in other parts of the world