RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT CONVENTIONAL INTERFERONS IN TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Authors

  • Waquaruddin Ahmed
  • Ambreen Arif
  • Ejaz Alam
  • Huma Qureshi

Abstract

Background: Sustained virological response to interferon therapy is a great challenge for patients ofchronic Hepatitis C. Over 20 brands of interferons are available in the local market with each claimingover 80% response and a wide variation in the cost thus creating confusion for treating physicians as towhich drug should be selected. Methods: Chronic Hepatitis C patients attending outpatients departmentof Pakistan Medical Research Centre JPMC from January 1998–December 2010 were evaluated.Complete blood count, liver function tests, serum proteins, HCV-RNA were done in all cases beforestarting therapy. Side effects were also noted. Results: Total of 851 cases received interferon 3 MIUthree times a week for 6 months. There were 638 (75%) males and 213 (25%) females, mean age was36.1±10.4 years. All were HCV-RNA positive prior to treatment, at the end of 6 months 666 (78.3%)became negative while 185 (21.7%) were non-responders with positive HCV RNA. End of treatmentresponse (ETR) showed 84.7% with Bioferon (Argentina), 83.8% Hebron (Cuba), 82.2% INF(Argentina), 82.1% Ceron (China), 81% Viteron (Korea), 80.7% Leveron (Argentina), 81.5%Hepaferon, 79.1% Anferon (China), 77.4% Intron (Belgium), 75% Green alpha (Korea), 74% Roferon(Switzerland), 67.3% Uniferon (Lithuania), and 68.4% with others. Post-treatment 211 cases were lost tofollow-up. In remaining 358/640 (55.9%) negative for HCV-RNA, at six months follow up, whereas 98(15.3%) relapsed. Sustained virological response (SVR) Ceron 68.2%, Hebron 66.3%, Bioferon 65.2%,Leveron 60.5%, Intron 60.3%, Viteron 57%, Anferon 53.3%, Green alpha, Roferon, Hepaferon, andothers 50%, INF 48.5% and Uniferon 41.9%. Average cost of these interferons was Rs. 6,000/month,except Hepaferon 5,000/month, Roferon 10,600/month. Conclusions: ETR ranged from 74–84.7% andSVR 41.9% to 68.2% and >60% SVR was observed with Ceron, Hebron, Bioferon, Leveron, Intron andwere cost effective.Keywords: Conventional interferon, response, chronic Hepatitis C.

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Published

2012-12-01

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 3-4 (2012): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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