Adverse effect profile of patients receiving anti viral treatment for chronic Hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is present in 3 - 10 % of Pakistani population and genotype 3 is the most prevalent subtype in our patients. In a suitable candidate interferon along with Ribavirin is the main stay of treatment for these patients. These drugs have short as well as long term safety problem. Morbidity and frequency of discontinuation of therapy correlate directly with the frequency of adverse events while on treatment. Objectives: This observational study has been conducted to find out the adverse effect profile of anti viral treatment for our Chronic HCV patients. Material and method: From 1st March 2005 to 30th March 2005, 100 consecutive patients suffering from chronic HCV infection receiving standard interferon alpha 2 b and ribavirin were included. All of them were inquired on a questionnaire about the adverse events and then analyzed. Results and discussion: In as many as 65 % of the patients receiving anti viral treatment complained of an adverse event. The events were in the form of Flu like symptoms, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, lack of appetite, dry cough and breathlessness, Depression, persistent fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and skin rash. Conclusion: A high number of pts receiving anti viral treatment for ch. HCV infection suffer from adverse events.