IS THE DEGREE OF HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA DURING REBETRON THERAPY FOR HEPATITIS C PREDICTABLE AND PREVENTABLE?
M Alghamdi, S Patel, G Hirsch, D Dickey, C Johnstone, K Peltekian Hepatology Services, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Rebetron for hepatitis C (HCV) results in haemolytic anaemia with 8 10% of patients dropping their haemoglobin to less than 10 g/L. In a pilot study, we identified baseline serum haptoglobin level as a predictor for the degree of drop in haemoglobin. Our objectives for this study included: (1) Confirmation that baseline haptoglobin level less than 1000 mg/dl before starting Rebetron is a good predictor for significant haemoglobin drop by week-4; (2) Explore the effect of prophylactic folate administration in prevention of haemolytic anaemia at week-4 of Rebetron therapy. Baseline serum haptoglobin was done in all HCV patients starting Rebetron. Group A consisted of those with haptoglobin greater than or equal to 1000 mg/dl. Patients with baseline haptoglobin less than 1000 mg/dl were randomised to receive folate 5mg PO OD (Group B) or no folate (Group C). CB
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