الفهرس 
Patients and methods:Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
summary and conclusion
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem and a leading cause of
chronic liver disease.HCV causes hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC).It accounts for about 15 percent of acute viral hepatitis, 60 to 70 percent of
cirrhosis ,end stage liver disease, and liver cancer.
Chronic hepatitis C varies greatly in its course and outcome. At one end of the spectrum are
infected persons who have no signs or symptoms of liver disease and have completely
normal levels of serum enzymes ,the usual blood test results that indicate liver disease.
Liver biopsy usually shows some degree of injury to the liver ,but the extent is usually
mild ,and the over all prognosis may be good.
At the other end of the spectrum are patients with sever hepatitis C who have symptoms,
high levels of the virus (HCV RNA) in serum, and elevated serum enzymes,and who
ultimately develop cirrhosis and end stage liver disease.
In the middle of the spectrum are many patients who have few or no symptoms,mild to
moderate elevations in liver enzymes,and uncertien prognosis.
Currently, the aim of treatment in hepatitis C infection is the eradication of HCV, which
helps to delay the progression to terminal liver disease and to prevent the development of
HCC.
Two forms of peginterferon, peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and peginterferon
alfa-2b (12KD) , are commercially available.The superiority of combination of pegylated
interferons and ribavirin over standered combinations has been consistently demonstrated
in several studies. combination
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The optimal duration of treatment for patients with genotype 1 or 4 is 48 weeks. For
patients with genotype 2 or 3, 24 weeks has been the standard
The aim of this study is to determine if there is adifference in the relapse rates of HCV six
months after end of therapy between pegylated interferon alpha 2a plus ribavirin and
pegylated interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin.
In conclusion, this study shows that there is similar relapse rates of HCV six months after
end of therapy between pegylated interferon alpha 2a plus ribavirin and pegylated
interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin, the baseline characteristics of the relapsed patients are
old age at least 45 years , BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 and liver steatosis and these baseline
characteristics associated with relapse did not differ in both treatment groups.