en Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Original Research: Clinical Science Original Research: Clinical Science <p> <strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p> <strong>Background:</strong> Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin is the most effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C today. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thrice-weekly Heberon (interferon alfa-2b) in combination with ribavirin as first -line treatment of chronic hepatitis C.</p><p> <strong>Methods:</strong> A total of97 treatment-naive patients received Heberon three million units thrice-weekly subcutaneously in combination with ribavirin for 12 months. Serum HCV RNA levels were measured before and during therapy and 6 months after the end of therapy. End-of-treatment and sustained virological responses was defmed as an undetectable HCV-RNA level at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment was completed (end of follow-up), respectively.</p><p> <strong>Results:</strong> In an intent-to-treat analysis, HCV-RNA was undetectable at the end of treatment in 49.5% of patients. At the end of follow-up, sustained virological response was 36.1 %. Combination treatment was generally well tolerated. Six patients stopped therapy because of side effects: severe cytopenia (n=4), depression (n=1), and hyperthyroidism (n= 1 ). Common side effects of therapy include: Flu-like syndrome (85.6%), generalized alopecia (41.2% ), injection site inflammation (37.1% ), mood changes (36% ), anorexia (34%) and weight loss (32% ).</p><p> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Heberon as an IFN product in combination with ribavirin for treat-ment of patients with chronic hepatitis Cis relatively safe, feasible, and potentially efficacious. It has comparable results in achieving end-of-treatment and sustained virological responses in chronic hepatitis C.</p> Interferon alfa-2b, Chronic hepatitis C, Sustained virological response, Side effects. 7 12 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-253&slc_lang=en&sid=1 H. FOROOTAN 20031947532846002512 20031947532846002512 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital,Tehran. A. SHARIFI 20031947532846002513 20031947532846002513 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. SH. MIRMOMEN 20031947532846002514 20031947532846002514 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. N. DARYANI rayenil 3@yahoo.com 20031947532846002515 20031947532846002515 Yes Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. H. GHOFRANI 20031947532846002516 20031947532846002516 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. M. FARAHVASH 20031947532846002517 20031947532846002517 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. M. NASIRI 20031947532846002518 20031947532846002518 No Digestive Research Centel; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. M. TALEBI 20031947532846002519 20031947532846002519 No Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences,Alzahra Hospital, Esfahan. A. GHAVIDEL 20031947532846002520 20031947532846002520 No Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tabriz. H. VOSOGHINIA 20031947532846002521 20031947532846002521 No Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad,University of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, MashUniversity of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, University of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad. F. MANSOURGHANAEI 20031947532846002522 20031947532846002522 No Digestive Research Center, Gilan,University of Medical Sciences, Razi Hospital, Rasht. M. ZAHEDI 20031947532846002523 20031947532846002523 No Samenolhojaj Therapeutic Center, Kerman. H. MIRMOMEN 20031947532846002524 20031947532846002524 No Department of Internal Medicine, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Sina Hospital, Ahvaz. M. AZMI 20031947532846002525 20031947532846002525 No Department of Internal Medicine, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Sina Hospital, Ahvaz. M. AMIRIAN 20031947532846002526 20031947532846002526 No Department of Internal Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Emam Khomeini Hospital,Zahedan, Iran.