Sohail Iqbal Bhutta, Masood Ahmad, Naveed Younas, Mamullah Matti, Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Khurram, Muhammad Imran, Amir Rizwan, Zahid Mahmood Minhas.
Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis C, 3a patients who did not respond to therapy with interferon and ribavirin
Pak J Gastroenterol Mar 2006;20(1):55-7.
Department of Medicine, Liver Research Clinic, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi

This cross sectional study was aimed to note characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 3a, who don`t respond to conventional interferon and ribavirin combination therapy after 24 weeks, it was carried out at Liver Research Clinic Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi from January to December 2005. 58 patients of chronic hepatitis-C infected with genotype 3a who were virological non-responder (hepatitis-C viral polymerase chain reaction positive) at end of 24 weeks therapy with conventional interferon and ribavirin were included consecutively. Each patient`s age, gender, history of smoking, alcohol intake, pre and post treatment ALT levels were noted. 28(51%) patients were males and 30(51%) female. Mean patient age was 43.5±10.33 years. 9 (15.5%) patients were smoker. 1(1.7%) patient had history of alcohol intake. 10(17.2%) patients were diabetic. Mean pre-treatment ALT was 87.17±42.8 u/l. Mean post-treatment ALT was 66.43±40.06 u/l/ It can be concluded from these results that age above 40 years, low ALT levels (< twice upper limit of normal), smoking, and diabetes mellitus are important characteristics of this group of patients.

Category: Internal Medicine
Keywords: Hepatitis C. Hepatitis. Interferon. Ribavarin.

Click here for Full Text Article

This article has been viewed 272 times

Submit your Research Synopsis for Free Expert analysis - Search- Feedback - Drug Index
Post and View Comments on this Article