Biochemical and ultrasound aspects in chronic viral hepatitis C patients.

Aim: Biochemical and ultrasound investigations in patients with chronic hepatitis C on a 48-week anti-viral regimen.

Material And Methods: A group of 6 patients, 4 women and 2 men, age range 24-61, were evaluated at the beginning of therapy and compared after 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alpha-2b regimen at doses established by the National Treatment Program approved by the Romanian National Health Insurance House.

Results: ALT and AST levels have decreased in all patients. The viral load was undetectable in two patients, both females, after 48 weeks of therapy. Ultrasound images showed a decrease in size of the right and left hepatic lobes and portal vein diameter after 48 weeks.

Conclusions: Inhibition of virus by interferon and ribavirin resulted in the reduction of inflammatory phenomena and regenerative fibrosis noticed after a very long period of time (at least 48 weeks). Further studies performed on larger patient groups are needed in order to better describe all these changes.