Virological Response with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Iraqi Patients Infected with Chronic Active Hepatitis C Virus

Interferon ribavirin virological PEGylated fatigability genotype hepatitis C virus

Authors

  • Dr. Mustafa Ibrahim Munaty M.B.Ch.B., F.l.C.M.S. Ministry of Health, Baghdad Al-Russafa Health Directorate, Imam Ali Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
  • Dr. Salman Hussin Asst M.B.Ch.B., D.H., F.I.B.M.S., IN PEDIATRIC F.I.B.M.S., IN PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY Ministry of Health, Baghdad Al-Russafa Health Directorate, Imam Ali Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
  • Dr. Ali Hasan Rashid M.B.Ch.B., D.M., E.M.J.F.S., IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE Ministry of Health, Baghdad Al-Russafa Health Directorate, Imam Ali Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq
February 29, 2024

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Background: Hepatitis C is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded, enveloped, positive sense RNA virus.

The virus can infect the person and may cause severe inflammation of the liver, leading to severe liver damage and long-term complications.1 Objective: this study was to assess the virological responses for Iraqi patients infected with chronic active hepatitis C virus treated by combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

PATIENTS & METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study in which 487 (297 male and 190 female) patients with chronic active HCV infection was enrolled to the period between Ist of Dec. 2021 to 10" of Jan. 2022 from the GIT outpatient clinic of Baghdad teaching hospital. Data were collected from patients containing (name. age, gender, residency, occupation, date of diagnosis. family history, etc.). Investigations had been done to assess pretreatment conditions and post-treatment virological responses, including EVR, ETR, and SVR and drug side effects for all patients.

Results: Out of the 487 treated patients, 297 (61%) were male and 190 (39%) were female. The mean age was 37 years. 210 (43.1%) had genotype 1b, 170 (34.9%) had genotype-4, 58 (11.9%) had genotype-1a, 34 (7%) had genotype-3, and 15 (3.1%) had genotype-2. The overall SVR24 was (46%) and SVR for each genotype was as follows: Genotype la: 36.2% Genotype 1b: 39% Genotype 2: 66.7% Genotype 3: 67.6% Genotype 4:51.8%

Conclusion: The commonest HCV genotype in the present study is genotype 1b, followed by genotype four, then LA, and the overall SVR24 by PEGylated interferon alfa 2a/ribavirin combination treatment is 46% in the present study. The most responsive genotypes are genotypes 2 and 3, while the least responsive genotypes are genotypes la and 1b. The commonest side effects of PEGylated interferon alfa 2a / ribavirin combination treatment are arthralgia, fatigability, fever, and flu-like illness. Persistent blood count.