title: Response rates of standard interferon therapy in chronic HCV patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon based therapy is used to eradicate the Hepatitis C Virus from the bodies of the infected individuals. HCV is highly prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) that is why it is important to determine the response of standard interferon based therapy in Chronic HCV patients of the region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 174 patients were selected for interferon based therapy. The patients were selected from four different regions of KPK. After confirmation of active HCV infection by Real Time PCR, standard interferon with ribavirn was given to patients for 6 months. After completion of therapy, end of treatment virologic response (ETR) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of total 174 patients, 130 (74.71%) showed ETR and 44 (25.28%) did not show ETR. In district Bunir, out of 52 patients, 36 (69.23%) showed ETR and 16 (30.79%) did not show ETR. In district Mardan, out of the total 74 patients, 66 (89.18%) were negative for HCV RNA and 8 (10.81%) were resistant to therapy. In Peshawar, out of 22, 16 (60%) were negative and 6 (40%) were positive for HCV RNA at the end of 6 months therapy. In the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), out of 18 only 10 (55.5%) were negative and 8 (44.45%) were positive for active HCV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the response of antiviral therapy against HCV infection in chronic HCV patients of KPK province is 74.71%. The high response rate may be due to the prevalence of IFN-responsive HCV genotypes (2 and 3) in KPK.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. bashirdr2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bashir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Sajid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Ijaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Sadiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.forename: Shumaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bashir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase