Abstract
Objective: The purpose behind this study was to determine the frequency of erectile dysfunction in patients receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
 Study Design: Prospective observational study.
 Setting: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Unit III, Services Hospital, Lahore.
 Period: Six months from 10st July 2017 to 9th January 2018.
 Materials and Methods: We have evaluated a total of 130 patients through a consecutive sampling technique who were admitted or visited Out-Patient-Department (OPD) with an underlying diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection and advise to take anti viral regime (Pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy) for HCV treatment and followed after 12 weeks and 24 weeks for erectile dysfunction.
 Results: A total of 130 patients with HCV infection were included. The overall mean age of the patients was 37.4±9.6 years. The overall frequency of erectile dysfunction was 83.07%. Among them, equal percentage of patients at 12 and at week 24 did not have erectile dysfunction (N = 76, 58.5%). While severe erectile dysfunction was surprisingly more common at week 12 (14.61%, N = 19) than at week 24 (13.07%, N = 17) of treatment. Significant association of severe erectile dysfunction was only observed at week 12 in age group 40 – 60 years (p <0.05).
 Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction is more common and potential side effect of patients being treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin but duration of therapy did not affect the prevalence of sexual impairment although with increasing age, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction is significantly increased.
Highlights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at present is one of the most prevalent viral hepatic infections affecting more than 180 million people worldwide
Materials and Methods: We have evaluated a total of 130 patients through a consecutive sampling technique who were admitted or visited Out-Patient-Department (OPD) with an underlying diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection and advise to take anti viral regime (Pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy) for HCV treatment and followed after 12 weeks and 24 weeks for erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is more common and potential side effect of patients being treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin but duration of therapy did not affect the prevalence of sexual impairment with increasing age, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction is significantly increased
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at present is one of the most prevalent viral hepatic infections affecting more than 180 million people worldwide. Most of the HCV infected patients (80%) develop chronic liver disease when left untreated and converts to end stage liver disease [1,2]. Being the most common chronic liver disease, the treatment with anti viral therapy may reduce the burden of conversion into end stage liver disease, the common treatment which is given to such patients are the combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin and is proved to be effective in terms of biological and virological response but it is associated some minor and potentially major side effects [3,4] and sometimes these side effects may cause hinder in the management of patients with HCV infection. Around more than 50% of the HCV patients taking this therapy experience mild to moderate sexual impairment and these side effects are due to sex hormones disturbances both in men and women, mainly due to abnormality of the physiology of hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis [10]
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