Abstract

Hanna Nomani, Anum Aqsa, Ali Zohair Nomani*, Muhammad Saleem Qureshi and Musarrat Iqbal

ABSTRACT

Background: To determine the hematological safety profile of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in treating chronic hepatitis C and the use of tissue stimulating growth factors. Methods: The study was conducted on 71 treatment naïve individuals with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for 6 months. All subjects were analyzed for hematological side effects. Growth factors were given to counter the adverse effects. Consequent effects of growth factors and need for modification of antiviral therapy was observed. Results: Anemia was seen in 35.2% (n=25) individuals, 29.6% (n=21) developed thrombocytopenia while leukopenia was seen in 38% (n=27). Out of 9 individuals who required growth factors to counter the adverse effects, 7 (77.7%) had clinical improvement and did not require reduction in dose or discontinuation of therapy. All others tolerated the therapy well. Conclusion: Pegylated interferon combination therapy has tolerable spectrum of hematological side effects and the concomitant support by growth factors in those with profound log drop in cell lines can help to achieve the viral response without the need for reduction of dose or discontinuation of therapy. This could help achieve Sustained Virological Response (SVR) and End of Treatment Response (ETR) without jeopardizing the efficacy of interferon related to reduction of dose or discontinuation.