Biochemical Evolution and Histological Response of Patients with Hepatitis C Undergoing Antiviral Therapy. Evolución bioquímica y respuesta histológica de pacientes con hepatitis C bajo tratamiento antiviral.

Background: Hepatitis C is a major health problem worldwide and the most common indicator for the need of a liver transplantation in many countries. Objective: To determine the biochemical evolution and the histological response of patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with ribavirin and recombinant interferon alfa-2b in the provincial Hepatology consultation. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted. It included 31 patients who presented the hepatitis C virus and were treated in the Hepatology consultation of the Provincial General University Hospital of Cienfuegos "Dr. Aldereguía Gustavo Lima’’ from January 2007 to June 2009. These patients were administered with ribavirin and recombinant interferon alfa-2b. Variables such as age, sex, possible route of infection, aminotransferase alanine serum, biochemical evaluation (after treatment and after follow-up) and histological response were included. In order to assess the histological activity of chronic liver injuries Knodell Index was used. In order to compare the results (biochemical and histological response) before and after treatment the Sign Test was used. Results: Women were predominant in the sample group (58.1%). The average age was 45.5 ± 11.6 years. The possible route of transmission could not be identified in 51.6% of patients, while surgical treatment was identified as the route of infection in 22.6% of the cases, followed by repeated parenteral treatment in 16.1% of them. Conclusion: By the end of treatment there was a higher response rate in terms of biochemical changes and histological response.