Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Nasrullah Khan, Amna Batool, Javed Asad.
Chronic Hepatitis C; effect of Ribavirin therapy on liver functions.
Professional Med J Jan ;8(4):487-90.

Chronic Hepatitis C is the current problem for patients as well as physicians all over the world. Various drugs are in practice for the management of chronic hepatitis C but no exact treatment has yet been established. OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of Ribavirin chemotherapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. PERIOD: Jan 2000 to June 2000. SETTING: Model Town Laboratory, Nawaz Medicare Hospital, and Faisalabad. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum total bilirubin (STB), Serum Conjugate Bilirubin (SCB), Serum Unconjugated Bilirubin (SUB), Serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) level in 20 patients having chronic hepatitis C were studied before and after 6 months chemotherapy with Ribavirin. RESULTS: The levels of SGPT were considerably raised (246.65 ± 82.4 U/ L) before treatment and returned to normal levels (36.85 ± 10.08 U/L) after six months of Ribavirin therapy. Levels of serum bilirubin and ALP remained within normal limits, before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: Ribavirin alone could possibly provide some benefits as long term continuous therapy in patients in whom interferon (IFN) cannot be used.

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