title: EFFECT OF STANDARD INTERFERON AND RIBAVIRIN ON LEUKOCYTECOUNT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic Hepatitis C is a public health problems in Pakistan, with 4.5% population infected. It is amenable to antiviral treatment. The ojective of this study was to determine the effect of antiviral treatment on leukocytes count during the treatment of hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive case series sixty PCR positive Hepatitis C patients were included and were given standard interferon and ribavirin for a period of six months with a monthly follow up. Total leukocytes were measured at monthly interval to study change in their counts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of baseline leukocytes was compared with the average mean leukocytes of six months treatment, and a decrease of 1603.36/mm3 was observed (p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six months treatment of chronic hepatitis C with standard interferon and ribavirin decreases leukocytes count to a significant level.
authors.forename: Shakeel Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jadoon
authors.forename: Ashfaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Attique-ur-Rehman
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Jehangiri
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons