CONTEMPORARY THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Abstract

The examination comprised a total number of 16 persons suffering from HCV infection that was confirmed by the clinic, biochemical and pathohistological method. The examined patients were divided into two groups, one group comprising 11 while the other comprising 5 patients. The patients of the first group were treated with recombinant interferon (dose of 3 x 3 MU) while the patients of the second group were treated with the combination of interferon (3 x 3 MU) and ribavirin (1000 : 1200 per day).The treatment lasted 6 to 12 months; the values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), pathohistological changes and behavior of the HCV-RNA titer were followed in that period of time.During the treatment the effect of the side effect, of the "flu like" type was followed at the same time as well as other late manifestations.A more favorable effect of the treatment was registered in the 2nd group of the patients who had a less frequent occurrence of the biochemical relapse and a more frequent drop of the HCV-RNA titer.However, statistical relevance was not determined since the examination was done on a rather smaller number of the patients.

Keywords

• HCV
• Interferon
• Ribavirin
• ALT
• HCV-RNA