Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 42
No 2, April, 2003
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478

 

Contact:
Velimir Kostić
Klinika za zarazne bolesti Kliničkog centra,
Braće Tasković 48 18000 Niš,
Srbija i Crna Gora
Tel.: 018/531-161

CONTEMPORARY THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

 

Velimir Kostić, Branislav Jovanović, Maja Jovanović, Ljiljana Konstantinović i Miodrag Vrbić

Klinika za zarazne bolesti Kliničkog centra u Nišu

The examination comprised a total number of 16 persons suffering from HCV infection that was confirmed by the clinic, biochemical and pathohistological method. The examined patients were divided into two groups, one group comprising 11 while the other comprising 5 patients. The patients of the first group were treated with recombinant interferon (dose of 3 x 3 MU) while the patients of the second group were treated with the combination of interferon (3 x 3 MU) and ribavirin (1000 : 1200 per day).
The treatment lasted 6 to 12 months; the values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), pathohistological changes and behavior of the HCV-RNA titer were followed in that period of time.
During the treatment the effect of the side effect, of the "flu like" type was followed at the same time as well as other late manifestations.
A more favorable effect of the treatment was registered in the 2^nd group of the patients who had a less frequent occurrence of the biochemical relapse and a more frequent drop of the HCV-RNA titer.
However, statistical relevance was not determined since the examination was done on a rather smaller number of the patients. Acta Medica Medianae 2003; 42 (2): 55-58.

Key words: HCV, Interferon, Ribavirin, ALT, HCV-RNA