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Abstract SVR rate for treatment of HCV-4 using the standard of care ranges from less than 50% to over 60%. It is important to optimize the dose and duration of currently available treatment modalities, namely PEG-IFN and RBV, for treatment of CHC. Recent studies on early viral kinetics in HCV infected patients show that almost 90% of patients treated with peg-IFN a-2b and ribavirin experienced an end of the week rebound consistent with a decline in serum IFN levels. This clinical trial was conducted to study whether splitting the dose of pegylated interferon a-2b affect the virological response. Thirty naive HCV patients attending the outpatient clinic of hepatology department, these patients were divided based on dose of pegylated interferon into: Group I: Patients received pegylated interferon a2b 1.5 y glkg weekly plus ribavirin on weight-based regimen 1000 mg daily dose for patient weight <75 kg and 1200 mg daily dose for patient (weight >75 kg). For 3 months. Group 11: Patients received pegylated interferon a2b 0.75yglkg twice weekly plus ribavirin on weight-based regimen for 3 months. Summary and conclusion All patients achieved EVR in both groups continue their regimen of therapy as the standard regimen. Virological response was assessed in both groups. All virological response rates (RVR, EVR, ETR, and SVR), were comparable in both groups. Side effects occurrences were similar in both studied groups. Factors associated with virological response in this study were low GGT, hepatic fibrosis and lower HCV RNA. In addition, the study showed that Hepatitis C patients who develop anemia during treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin and decline of decline of hemoglobin more than 3 gm are more likely to achieve a sustained virological response SVR. |