Host Factors Influences on Treatment Response in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with pegINF and Ribavirin in Albania

Introduction: The impact of viral factors like genotype, HCVRNA at baseline, or viral kinetics during treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients is better defined recently. In contrary different results comes from studies about the impact of age, gender or BMI on treatment response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with standard scheme. Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of host factors (age, gender, BMI, biochemical and hematological profile) on treatment response in CHC patients in Albania. Patients and Methods: A total of 151patients, diagnosed with CHC in UHC “Mother Tereza” service of Gastro-Hepatology were included in this study. All the patients were treated with PegINF alfa-2a (180 μg s.c/week) and ribavirin 800-1200 mg/day (according to body weight and genotype). The duration of treatment varied from 24-48 to72 weeks according to genotype and virological response. Patients were assessed for age, gender, BMI, TC (total cholesterol),TGC, Fast blood glucose (FBG), GGT, AST, ALT, WBC, PLT, HB and was evaluated their impact on treatment response in both SVR and Non-SVR group. Data were analyzed statistically by Chi square test and T test. P < 0.05 is considered significant. Results: In general patients aged < 45 years/old had a SVR rates of 59.2% and those ≥ 45years/old 64% without significant differences between groups (Chi-square=0.366, df=1, p=0.545). Female patients had a SVR rate of 63.7% and males 59.7% (Chi-square =0.255, df=1, p=0.614) without significant differences between groups. The SVR rates of females < 45 years /old, females ≥ 45 ys/old, males < 45 ys/old and males ≥ 45 ys/old were respectively 66.7%, 61.9%, 55%, 66.7% in all cases without significant differences between groups. Through binary logistic regression technique, is shown that there is a causal link, statistically significant between the non-SVR and BMI ≥ 27kg / m2; It can be said that patients with BMI> / = 27 kg / m2, are 2.6 times more likely than patients with BMI <27kg / m2, not to achieve SVR. (OD:2.58, CI 95%: 1.59-5.67). Significant statistical differences in baseline TC, GGT and PLT were found between SVR and non -SVR groups. Conclusions: BMI ≥ 27, low level of TC, low level of PLT and high level of GGT at baseline are significant negative baseline predictors of SVR. Age and gender are not predictors of treatment response in CHC patients in Albania.