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Abstract
Background: This Study was conducted to
compare mean levels of quantitative PCR (RNA) of
males and female Hepatitis C positive patients along
with any disparity in responsiveness towards
interferon therapy between males and females.
Methods: This cross sectional analytical study was
conducted from February 2015 to January 2016 at the
Liver Centre of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi,
Pakistan. 204 patients of Hepatitis C, 104 males and
100 females were selected through Simple Random
Sampling. The data was collected from the records of
the patients regarding gender, HCV load,
Quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to
interferon, past surgical and transfusion history.
Results: Mean PCR of females was 4.57E6± 1.998E7
IU whereas mean PCR of males was 3.04E6
±8296048.199 and this difference was not statistically
significant, (p=0.47). Among the males, 46.26% did
not respond to the interferon treatment whereas
those who responded were 34.69%. While among the
females, 65.30% of did not respond to treatment and
34.70% responded, with a statistically insignificant
difference (p=0.2).
Conclusion: HCV load is unequivocally
distributed amongst males and females. Females
emerged as better responders to conventional
pegylated 2 alpha interferon therapy than males.
Key Words: HCV, viral load, interferon, response,
gender, Polymerase Chain Reaction.