SAJID ALISupervised By: Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmad2026-07-162026-07-162012http://repository.uop.edu.pk/123456789/448Hepatitis 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.enThesis