Manuela Arbune 1, P. Dăscălescu 2
1 “Dunărea de Jos” University Galaţi
2 Infectious Diseases Hospital Galaţi
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 3% of the people all over the world. The heterogeneous viral genotypes correlate with prognosis of the disease. Genotype 1 is characterized by the low response to interferon and prevails in Romania. The relation between metabolic syndrome (MS) and the effectiveness of treatment with Peg Interferon and Ribavirin was assessed in 57 patients with chronic hepatitis C recorded in the Infectious Diseases Hospital Galaţi during 2007-2009. The retrospective study was based on analysis of medical records, therapeutic protocols and the criteria of metabolic syndrome. The virologic response was 92% at 24 weeks and it was sustained at 72 weeks in 56.16% of cases. MS was diagnosed in 31% of patients with HCV and it was significantly correlated with weak viral response at 24 weeks. The study concluded that failure of treatment with Peg Interferon and Ribavirin is related to MS in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Systematic assessment and improvement of metabolic syndrome before the antiviral treatment should optimize the virologic response of HCV.