Neutropenia in chronic hepatitis C during Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy.

Background:  Neutropenia is a condition  characterized by  an abnormally low number of a  type of white blood cells called  Neutrophils, up  to 25 % of  people who take  pegylated  interferon,  ribavirin  and an HCV protease inhibitor experience Neutropenia.
 
Aim of the work: The study will be intended  to analyze neutrophil  counts and associated  conditions of the  liver and spleen , platelet  count, liver  enzymes  and  infections, during  Interferon  and Ribavirin therapy.
 
Patients and methods:    One hundred forty two patients with chronic hepatitis C virus  infection,  their age  between  (18-59) years, selected  from  the  National Hepatology  and Tropical   Medicine Research Institute  were  included  in  this  study,  during    Interferon  and  Ribavirin  therapy.
All the  patients  were  subjected  to the following  history, through  clinical  examination, abdominal  ultrasonography  and collection of   blood  samples  for  routine investigations, CBCs  and serological  assay for ALT, Bilirubin.
 
Resuls: Our results revealed presence of  32.4 % anaemia, 18.3 % Thrombocytopenia, 16.9 % elevated ALT, 2.8 % elevated bilirubine, 16.9 % coarse liver, 25.4 % hepatomegaly, 16.2 %  splenomegaly,   and 16.9 % of  cases  complained different  shapes of  infection, associated with  Neutropenia  in  patients  of chronic hepatitis C during interferon  and ribavirin therapy.
 
Conclusion:  Our  study  concluded that  the  prevalence of  Neutropenia  in  chronic   hepatitis C  virus infection  patients  23.8 %  during  interferon and  ribavirin therapy  but it is not usually associated  with infection.
 
Recommendations:   Neutropenia  is  a  complicated  process   that  requires  expert  guidance from a medical provider.