Publications of Faculty of Medicine:A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OF PEGYLATED INTERFERON THERAPY PLUS RIBAVIRIN IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C (WITH AND WITHOUT SPLENECTOMY)..: Abstract

Still hepatitis C vines infection ( HCV) is a common health problem world-wide including Egypt and eradication by pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is the aim and crucial ,beside avoid the side effects of the therapy. Hypersplenism is common in patients with chronic liver diseases. Patients and Methods: In the present study 30 patients divided into• 2 groups (Splenectornized that removed due to different aetiologies other than chronic liver diseases Le Enema, and non Splenectomized). The chronic HCV patients were selected from the Departments of Internal medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases, Benha University HospitaL The 2 groups cross matched as regard age, sex... etc. All the investigations done follow the role standard for enrollment of the patients to therapy schedule of INF and Ribavirin . Results: There was no statistical signcant difference in the follow up of investigations throughout 1,2,4,8.12 and 48 weeks, P value was (0.0>0.05) of no statistical significant, for CBC, Liver function tests and creatinine level, except for total bilirubin (TB at weeks 32,40, 44 and 48 of therapy). P value was of statistical significance (S a 05.) Conculsion: No need to do splenectomy in patients with chronic HCV, especially under treatment by pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy unless there was a problem wise related to the dragging pain of splenomegaly or other haematological problem.