title: Biochemical and ultrasound aspects in chronic viral hepatitis C patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biochemical and ultrasound investigations in patients with chronic hepatitis C on a 48-week anti-viral regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 6 patients, 4 women and 2 men, age range 24-61, were evaluated at the beginning of therapy and compared after 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alpha-2b regimen at doses established by the National Treatment Program approved by the Romanian National Health Insurance House.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALT and AST levels have decreased in all patients. The viral load was undetectable in two patients, both females, after 48 weeks of therapy. Ultrasound images showed a decrease in size of the right and left hepatic lobes and portal vein diameter after 48 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhibition of virus by interferon and ribavirin resulted in the reduction of inflammatory phenomena and regenerative fibrosis noticed after a very long period of time (at least 48 weeks). Further studies performed on larger patient groups are needed in order to better describe all these changes.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa-Iaşi School of Medicine.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petraru
authors.forename: Gh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a