Efficacy of Atorvastatin Plus Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Versus Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Alone in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Genotype-3a: Atorvastatin for the treatment of chronic HCV with Genotype-3a

Waqas  Gulzar; Zafar  Niaz; Sami Ullah  Mumtaz; Somia  Iqtadar; Tayyeba  Komal; Sajid  Abaidullah

doi:10.52229/pbmj.v2i1.28

Authors

Waqas Gulzar Department of Medicine, District Headquarter Hospital, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Zafar Niaz North Medical Ward, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Sami Ullah Mumtaz North Medical Ward, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Somia Iqtadar North Medical Ward, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Tayyeba Komal Department of Pathology, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Sajid Abaidullah North Medical Ward, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52229/pbmj.v2i1.28

Abstract

Background:Chronic hepatitis C infection has created a huge burden of disease causing serious health effects. The combination therapy used to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection includes Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin. As cholesterol biosynthesis plays a pivotal role in HCV replication, the use of various statins has been associated with higher sustained viral response Objective: To compare the efficacy of atorvastatin plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin versus pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone in patients of chronic hepatitis C with genotype-3a Methods:This Randomized controlled trial was conducted at outpatient department, Mayo Hospital Lahore for six months i.e. May to November 2017. After ethical approval, 60patients of ages 25 to 55 years of either gender with chronic hepatitis C with genotype 3a were included in the study. Informed consent was taken from all patients.Then patients were randomly allocated into two groups “A” and “B” using random number table. Patients in Group A received standard of care treatment for chronic hepatitis C i.e. pegylated interferon and ribavirin while the patients in Group B also received tab atorvastatin along with the standard treatment. Patients were follow up for 4 week. Blood samples were collected and HCV RNA detection. All this information were entered in proformaResults: In standard therapy group, the mean age of patients was 39.50±8.39years. In atorvastatin plus standard therapy group, the mean age of patients was 34.30±6.78years. In standard therapy group, there were 25 (83.3%) males and 5 (16.7%) females. In atorvastatin plus standard therapy group, there were 16 (53.3%) males and 14 (46.7%) females. After 4 weeks, Rapid VirologicalResponse (RVR) was achieved in 4 (13.3%) patients in standard therapy group while in 14 (46.7%) in atorvastatin plus standard therapy group. The difference was significant (p<0.05) Conclusions: Atorvastatin in combination with Pegylated interferon and ribavirin have better efficacy as compared toPegylated interferon & ribavirin alone in chronic hepatitis C-3a.

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