Treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients with normal serum alanine aminotransferase by peg-IFN alpha-2a and ribavirin

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of peginterferon and ribavirin treatment on chronic hepatitis C patients with normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Methods 20 chronic hepatitis C patients with normal ALT and 25 patients with increased ALT were treated with peginterferon ( Pegasys) and ribavirin. Curative effect were evaluated at the 12,24 and 48 weeks during the treatment. The adverse effects of the treatment were evaluated at the same time. Result All patients with normal ALT completed the whole course of treatment. Following up studies were conducted at the 24th week after the treatment. The SVR was 45%(9/20). At the 12th week during the treatment,the EVR was 45%(9/20). At the end of treatment,the ETVR was 55% (11/20). Two patients had an increase in ALT and HCV RNA level after the 24 weeks of treatment. The recurrence rate was 18.2%(2/11). All the indexes had no statistically significant difference between the normal ALT and increased ALT group. Conclusion Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin may be used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with normal serum alanine aminotransferase. The side effect of treatment is slight.