[Side effects of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection].

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C currently represents a global health problem, which is expected to be reduced by pegylated-interferon and ribavirin therapy. We examined 88 patients with chronic hepatitis C, divided into three groups according to their comorbidity: the patients without comorbidity were in group I, group III included the patients on dialysis, and group III included the patients with hemophilia. RESULTS A significant difference was found in the percentage of achieved sustained virological response between the patients on dialysis and other patients, p < 0.05. Having analyzed the therapy adverse effects, we observed a significantly higher decrease of erythrocytes count, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in dialysis patients compared to others (p < 0.01). The patients on hemodialysis predominantly had anemia and leukopenia, while thrombocytopenia was equally present in all groups. The dominant clinical side effect was flu-like syndrome, present in more than a half of patients. The therapy positive effect is usually accompanied with adverse effects. The lowest therapeutic response was recorded in group II, due to the virus genotype 1. A significant decrease in hematological parameters was determined in all patients. The most common clinical adverse effect was flu-like syndrome, later manifestations included: weight loss, alopecia, insomnia and irritability. Side effects like psychosis, thyroid gland dysfunction or psoriasis were not recorded. A significant decrease in the value of all these hematological parameters was found in all groups of patients. Clinical side effects were present in 60% of patients. Side effects did not lead to discontinuation of therapy, but only to modification of drug doses.