Objectives: To observe hematological side effects of pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin therapy at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zaid Hospital, Rawalakot, Pakistan.
Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zaid Hospital, Rawalakot, Pakistan over a period of 2 years. It included 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C and laboratory investigations like blood complete picture, liver function tests (LFTs), Quantitative PCR for HCV RNA and ultrasound abdomen were reviewed. Combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin was started and patients progress was monitored for 6 months. Their blood complete picture was repeated at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and then on monthly basis for six months.
Results: Out of 100 patients, 68 were females and 32 were male. Mean age was 43 years. Mean hemoglobin, white blood cells (WBC) and platelets before treatment were 12.4 g/dl, 6.8 x 103/mcL and 210 x 103/mcL, respectively. Mean WBC kept on decreasing until 3 months and then improved and at end of treatment were 5.6 x 103/mcL. Similar trend was seen in hemoglobin with mean hemoglobin 11 g/dl at 6 months. Mean platelets at 6 months were 199 x 103/mc (P
Key words: Hematological side effects, pegylated interferon alpha 2a, ribavirin, hepatitis C
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