Virological Response to Conventional Interferon Therapy Combined with Ribavirin against Various HCV Genotypes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
BACKGROUND
Response to antiviral therapy has been linked to different genotypes and this impacts on clinical management. Data on general responses to standard interferon (IFN) against HCV infection exists but little is known regarding HCV genotype specific responses.


OBJECTIVE
Therefore, we attempted to determine genotype specific responses of chronic HCV patients, having different HCV genotypes, to standard IFN and ribavirin combination therapy administered for a period of six months in Kybher Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.


METHODS
HCV genotype was determined for all serum samples. Each patient received standard IFN combination therapy with ribavirin administered at dose of 3 MIU three times a week and 800-1200 mg/ day, respectively, for a period of six months. After completion of this therapy, PCR was performed for all course completed subjects.


RESULTS
Out of total 51 selected patients the most abundant genotypes were 3a (49.0%) and 1a (21.6%) followed by 3b (9.8%), 1b (7.84%), 2a (7.84%) and untypable (3.94%). Moast responsive genotypes were 2a followed by 3a, with end of treatment responses of 77.7%, and 72.2%. Responses for 3b, 1b and untypable were 66.7%, 33.3% and 0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN response is efficient in case of 2a and 3a genotypes while in case of untypable genotypes, further categorization is required to know about genomic sequences and to adopt some new regimes against these genotypes.
Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan E-mail : vet_sajid@yahoo.com, sajid@awkum.edu.pk.
Sajid
S
Ali
Bashir
B
Ahmad
Ijaz
I
Ali
Nourin
N
Mahmood
Naveed
N
Anwar
Ilyas
I
Saeedi
Jehan Zeb
JZ
Afridi
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010154:Pakistan; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin