Objective:To evaluate combination treatment with interferon (IFN)alpha-2b and ribavirin in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.To compare whether the therapeutic results differ between naive patients relapsers after IFN monotherapy and non-responders to IFN monotherapy.To evaluate the frequency of adverse therapeutic events such as anaemia,leukopenia and thrombocytopenia and the reversibility of chan- ges of haematological parameters.To evaluate in what proportion of patients it was necessary to reduce the original IFN and/or ribavirin doses because of adverse events. Method:Retrospective evaluation of results and safety of treatment of 173 patients with chronic hepatitis C,incl.41 IFN naive patients,47 relapsers after IFN monotherapy and 85 non-responders IFN monotherapy.Statistical evaluation of the different success rate in different patient groups (chi 2 test)and frequency of adverse events of treatment (Wilcoxon ´s test). Results:Saustained virological and biochemical responses were achieved after a 6-month interval following termination of one-year combined therapy with IFN alpa-2b (3 MU three times per week)and ribavirin (1000 –1200 mg/day)in 42%and 46%naive patients,in 45%and 43%relapsers and 25%and 26%non-respon- ders.Sustained biochemical response in patients not responding to IFN was significantly worse than in the other two groups (p 0.05).From the aspect of a sustained virological response the authors recorded also poorer results in patients who did not respond to previous treatment,in relapsing patients the difference is evaluated as statistically significant (p =0.019),in untreated patients at the borderline of statistical significance (p = 0.058).During treatment a significant decline of the haemoglobin level occurred as well as of the number of leucocytes and thrombocytes (p 0.001)as compared with baseline values),but before the end of the investigati- on all values reached normal levels.On account of leukopenia and/or neutropenia the dose of IFN alpha-2b had to be reduced in 8%patients,on account of serious anaemia the ribavirin dose was reduced in 21% patients. Conclusion:Combination treatment with IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin is effective in a significant proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C.Treatment is always associated with anaemia,leukopenia and thrombocyto- penia which are however completely reversible after termination of treatment.

        Key words: chronic hepatitis C –interferon alpha 2b –ribavirin –adverse events