TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C GENOTYPE-4 WITH ALPHA-INTERFERON IN SAUDI-ARABIA - A MULTICENTER STUDY

BACKGROUND/AIM: Several studies have indicated that there are certain predictive factors (gender, duration of infection with HCV, cirrhosis and genotype of HCV) of a better response with a-interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to eva luate these factors in Saudis and other Arab nationals with chronic he patitis C - genotype 4 - undergoing alpha-interferon treatment. METHOD OLOGY: A multicenter study was conducted between 1992 and 1994 on 80 c onsecutive patients who were prospectively recruited and randomized in treatment and control groups. RESULTS: The results of this multicente r study indicated a low response rate to a-interferon with an overall response rate of 43%, of which 28% was complete. The sustained respons e was only 16%. Among the reasons for this low response in our study a re the high percentage of patients with cirrhosis and the long infecti on interval, as about 80% of our HCV cases were community-acquired, CO NCLUSION: Liver cirrhosis was found to be the main predetermining fact or for response to interferon treatment. Genotype 4 was not a contribu ting factor to the difference in response rate.