Abstract
The objective of present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of combined ribavirin (RBV) and interferon (IFN) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Overall, 590 HCV patients were evaluated pre and post combined drug therapy during the period 2015-2017. Distribution of HCV genotypes, age groups, viral load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were recorded and analyzed for rapid virologic response (RVR), non-rapid virologic response (NRVR), sustained virologic response (SVR) and non-sustained virologic response (NSVR). Among the evaluated patients RVR was found among 81.5% and NRVR among 18.5%. Out of RVR patients, SVR was found in majority (80.2%). However, among NRVR equal percentage of SVR and NSVR was found. An inverse association of SVR was found against the patient age and viral load in the plasma. The plasma values of ALT have shown no specific relation with SVR and NSVR. Genotype 3a was the most prevalent (69.7%) followed by 3b (13.6%), mixed genotypes (10.5%), 1b (3.2%), 1a (3.1%) among the investigated patients. We found highest SVR against genotype 3a (79.4%), followed by 3b (56%), 1a (33%), 1b (37.3%), 3a+3b mixed infection (29%), and 1a+1b mixed infection 24.9%. In summary, we found a genotype specific response of drug therapy against HCV. Our findings can guide the local clinicians to inform the patients about the possible effectiveness of drug therapy and to manage the disease with more efficient plan.