Abstract: Objective To study the effects of ozone-enriched autologous blood transfusion on the efficacy and adverse reactions in patients with chronic hepatitis C（CHC）receiving interferon-α and ribavirin therapy. Methods One hundred and five CHC patients were divided into control group and treatment group;The patients in control group （n=52） were treated with subcutaneous injection of peginterferon-α and oral administration of ribavirin,while the patients in treatment group（n=53） were treated with combinational therapy of interferon,and ribavirin,and ozone-enriched autologous blood transfusion （an average of 10 to 16 times）. The regimen lasted for 48 weeks with a 24 week-posttreatment of follow-up. The virologic response rates and adverse reactions were observed. Results The incidence rates of serum high triglycerides levels,hypertension and diabetes in patients of treatment group were 28.3%,28.3% and 28.3%,respectively,significantly higher than those in the control patients（5.8%,7.7% and 7.7%,respectively,P<0.05）;No significant differences as respect to gender,average age,liver function tests,HCV RNA load and percentage of cirrhosis were observed between the two groups;The incidence rates of fever, flu-like symptoms and reduction of hemoglobin in patients of the treatment group（50.9%,35.8% and 34.0%,respectively） were significantly lower than those in the control patients （73.1%,x²=5.5,P<0.01;59.6% x²=5.9,P<0.01 and 55.8%,x²=5.0,P<0.05）;The rates of early virologic response,virologic response at end of treatment and sustained virologic response in patients in the treatment group（83.0%, 83.0% and 74.4%,respectively） were not significantly different from those （88.5%,86.5% and 76.3%,respectively） in the control patients. Conclusions Although some patients having metabolic syndrome,the virologic response rate in patients receiving interferon-α and ozone-enriched autologous blood transfusion is very high,with reduced adverse reactions. Ozone-enriched autologous blood transfusion may be promising in reducing interferon-α-induced adverse reactions.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis C, Ozone-enriched autologous blood transfusion, Interferon-α, Adverse reactions