Shaimuna Fareeha Sajjad, Waquaruddin Ahmed, Ambreen Arif, Syed Ejaz Alam.
Long term follow up of interferon treated chronic HCV patients in responders and non-responders.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;54(3):69-73.

Background: Interferon with ribavirin is the recommended treatment for chronic hepatitis C with a response rate ranging from 50-80% in different countries. Although sustained response is comparable to clinical cure, but whether interferon therapy slows down the disease process in non-responders and relapsers is not known. Objectives: To determine the long term outcome of chronic HCV patients who have completed the interferon therapy and compare results between responders, relapsers and non-responders. Patients and Methods: Retrospective case record analysis of chronic hepatitis C patients who were treated with conventional interferon and ribavirin for 6 months during 1998 to 2002 and their follow up till 2011 were included. Depending upon the response they were divided into three groups i.e. responders, non responders and relapsers. Results: A total of 175 patients were included. There were 126 (72%) males and 49 (28%) females, whose ages ranged from 11 to 70 years (mean 35.8 ± 10.3). After interferon therapy, 109 were sustained responders, 33 were relapsers and 33 non responders. Mean age of the responders (32.4 ± 8.8 years) was significantly less as compared to non responders (40.4 ± 12.0 years) and relapsers (42.4 ± 8.0 years), (p < 0.05). Responders had a much better follow up i.e four years as compared to non responders which was statistically significant (p <0.05). During 10 years follow up, cirrhosis developed in 3 (2.8%) sustained responders, 6 (18.2%) non responders and 8 (24.2%) relapsers. During yearly followup, sustained responders had significantly lower mean ALT and AFP levels as compared to non responders and relapsers (p < 0.05) while non responders and relapsers had lower albumin levels as compared to the responders (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the sustained responders had disease eradication, but non responders and relapsers should be followed for any evidence of cirrhosis.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com