HEPATITIS ‘C’;

ASSOCIATION OF INTERFERON-RIBAVIRIN THERAPY WITH HEARING LOSS

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine association of Interferon-Ribavarin therapy with hearing loss in patients
suffering from Hepatitis ‘C’. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration: Otolaryngology Department Combined Military
Hospital Rawalpindi from 09 June 2006 to 08 June 2007. Patients and Methods: Consenting sixty patients of Hepatitis C divided into two equal
groups of 30 each, (group A receiving Interferon-Ribavarin therapy and group B, not receiving it) during the study period fitting the inclusion
criteria were selected. Pure Tone Audiometery including both air and bone conduction performed as base line data at commencement of
therapy and then at the end of therapy (after six months) . Patients were sampled by Convenience (non-probability) technique. Results: The
number of patients who were found to have defined hearing loss was 06 (20%) in Group A (n=30) and 05(16.67%) in Group B (n=30). Chi Square
test was applied which showed a p-value of 0.739 which is highly insignificant. Conclusions: Interferon-Ribavarin Therapy does not have a
significant association with hearing loss in patients of Hepatitis ‘C’.