To determine the sustained virological and biochemical response rates and and the factors ınfuencing the m in hepatitis C patients on interferon+ribavirin combination therapy, 73 therapy naive hepatitis C patients who received interferon (JFN) alpha 2a or 2b (3x3 Mu/w or 3x4.5-5 mu/w) in combination with ribavirin (RJB) (800-1200 mglqd) for one year were fallowed up. Therapy was stoped in patients who were still HCV RNA pozitif at the sixth month. Ninety seven percent (34!35) of the patients were genot)pe Jb. Fifty nıne percent of the patients were HCV negative at the thırd month, 66% were negative at sixth nıonth and 61% at one year. Six months after cessation of therapy, virological and biochemical response rates were 53% and 52% respectively. There was no carre/atian between the response rates and the t)'pe and the dose of the IFN, the alanine anıinotransferase [evels (ALT) and fibrosis score bejare the therapy, age and gender (p>0.05 for all). Histological respanses were concordant with virological and biochemical responses. Our results indicafe that standard IFN alfa+ribavirin combinatıon therapy induces sustained virologica/ and biochemical response in more than half of the chronic hepatitis C patients independent of age, gender, type and dose of IFN, ALT levels andfibrosis score bejare therapy.
Keywords: Chronic hepatıtis C, interjeron, ribavirin, combınation therapy