Abstract

The under lying cause of non-A-non-b hepatitis (NANBH) in most of the cases is Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which leads to liver cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcenoma (HCC). A limitation in the control of the disease is the failure to develop vaccine due to high rate of mutation in viral isolates. Detection of antibodies to HCV is an important indication of past and present infection in enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) but this has many limitations in low risk groups. The most sensitive assay is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which has detection limit of 2000 viral genomes per ml of human serum. Nine out of fifty patients were selected on the basis of inclusion criteria. Only 4 parameters i.e Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Serum Bilirubin and Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) were raised above normal. They returned to normal by chemotherapy indicating the success of treatment but side effects and relapses were also observed. Alpha interferon (αINF) and ribavirin combination chemotherapy has success rate of almost 40%. It is suggested on the basis of study that this combination should not be used as first line treatment, also there is need to educate both doctors and patients to go for liver biopsies for treatment before and after chemotherapy for ensured treatment.