Factors Affecting the Response to Interferon Alpha Therapy in Egyptian HCV Patients

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Egypt has the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the world, estimated nationally at 14.7%. knowledge of the predictors of Sustained Viral Response to Pegylated Interferon (PEG-INF) and Ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C is crucial for selecting patients who would benefit most from therapy especially in developing country as Egypt, where the highest percentage of treatment cost funded by government. This study was performed on Egyptian patients with chronic active hepatitis C who were prepared for receiving a course of treatment with: Interferon PEG IFN and ribavirin for 48 weeks. The authors aimed to find more predictive markers those can help clinicians to choose the most effective treatment program for each patient. Relations were found between response to treatment and lower IL-10 level and lower Body Mass Index but not sufficient to reach to significant value.