INTERFERON BASED THERAPY OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS. A CASE STUDY OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA.
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Center of Biotechnology
Abstract
Hepatitis C is the inflammation of the Liver caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the
leading cause of the liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. About 3% of the
people have been affected by HCV world wide and in Pakistan being an underdeveloped
country; an estimated 10 million people have Hepatitis C infection (WHO). As hepatitis
C infection is asymptomatic and due to untimely diagnosis it leads to severe liver
diseases and anuualy a lot of affected individuals lose their lives. In order to cure the
infection Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has approved the use of Interferon (IFN) as the
treatment remedy. In Pakistan National Institute of Health (NIH) has also given the
recommendation for the use of IFN as the therapeutic agent
In KhyberPakhtunKhwa (KPK) mostly conventional IFN and Ribavirin combination
therapy is considered due to the prevalence of responsive genotypes 2 and 3. Earlier no
study has been conducted to sort out IFN response among chronic HCV patients in
different districts of KPK province, therefore we attempted to find out response of
conventional IFN combination therapy at districts level in KPK.
Samples were collected from chronic HCV patients referred by clinician/laboratories of
different regions of KPK. The samples were analyzed for screening by ICT
(Immunochromatographic Technique) and ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant
Asaay) followed by confirmation through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We have
also done genotyping for some of the chronic HCV patients. PCR confirmed positive
patients were given IFN and Ribavirin combination therapy keeping in mind the therapy
exclusion criteria. The dose of IFN and Ribavirin was 3 Million Units thrice a week and
800-1200mg daily depending on the age of the patients, respectively. This therapy was
continued for six months with repeated testing of ALT (Alanin Transaminase) and CBC
(Complete Blood Count), during and after therapy. At the end of six months of therapy,
PCR test was done for all course completed patients.