title: Predictors of hematological abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: Hematological abnormalities including neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia are commonly seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The aim of this study was to identify factors which would help to predict the development of hematological abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. During a 4-year period, all patients with chronic hepatitis C started on treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin were identified. Patients were defined as having hematological abnormalities if they had the presence of either anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or a combination of the above during treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. A total of 136 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included in this study. Fifty-two (38.2%) of the patients developed significant hematological abnormalities during treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin with 28 (20.6%), 30 (22.1%), and 11 (8.1%) developed neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Genotype 1, history of hypertension, low baseline platelet count, low baseline hemoglobin, as well as a raised creatinine were significant factors associated with the development of hematological abnormalities. Significant hematological abnormalities are commonly present in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. This study identifies pretreatment parameters that may help identify high-risk patients who are more likely to develop hematological abnormalities during treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, 2301 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. jnachnani@yahoo.com
authors: Jagdish S
authors: JS
authors: Nachnani
authors: Gowtham A
authors: GA
authors: Rao
authors: Deepti
authors: D
authors: Bulchandani
authors: Prashant K
authors: PK
authors: Pandya
authors: Laura M
authors: LM
authors: Alba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons