TITLE:
Predictors of Complete Early Virological Response to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 4
AUTHORS:
Gamal El Din Esmat Gamil, Maissa El Said El Raziky, Rabab Maamoun Salama, Wafaa Ahmed El Akel, Waleed Fouad Fathalah, Dina Ismail Attia
KEYWORDS:
Predictors of Response; cEVR; HCV Treatment; Peg IFN/Ribavirin
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: We aim to
determine the baseline factors associated with partial and cEVR by analyzing
the data of 1861 Egyptian patients treated for 12 weeks with a course of
Peg-IFN plus RBV. Base line data of 1861 Egyptian patients with chronic
hepatitis C coming at Cairo-Fatemic Hospital for HCV treatment were studied
including full clinical, Ultrasonographic examination, laboratory evaluation
and liver biopsy. The
most significant variables in relation to complete early virological response
were low Hb level (13 gm/dl)
with p 0.01, the stage of fibrosis p value p value were associated with less
achievement of c EVR. We conclude that identifying the most significant predictors of response such as Hb,
stage of fibrosis F, at baseline before initiating treatment is mandatory to
predict which patient will be more expected to achieve a cEVR and thus reducing
the side-effects and healthcare costs associated with interferon therapies.