An open pilot study exploring the efficacy of fluvastatin, pegylated interferon and ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b in high viral loads.

Autor:	Sezaki H; Department of Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. hitomis@mx1.harmonix.ne.jp, Suzuki F, Akuta N, Yatsuji H, Hosaka T, Kobayashi M, Suzuki Y, Arase Y, Ikeda K, Miyakawa Y, Kumada H
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Intervirology [Intervirology] 2009; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 43-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Apr 17.
DOI:	10.1159/000213504
Abstrakt:	Objective: Response to pegylated (PEG) interferon (IFN) and ribavirin is achieved only in 40-50% of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 1 in high viral loads, which needs to be improved. Methods: In an open-label pilot study, fluvastatin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), 20 mg daily, was given along with PEG-IFN/ribavirin to 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C. They were followed for HCV RNA in serum. Results: During treatment for 48 weeks, HCV RNA was lost from serum in 93% of the patients. In the 15 patients who received 48-week therapy, a sustained virological response (SVR) with loss of HCV RNA 24 weeks after completion was achieved in 10 (67%), including 7 of the 9 (78%) male and 3 of the 6 (50%) female patients. In the remaining 6 patients who received 72-week therapy, SVR was gained in 4 (67%), including 1 of the 2 male and 3 of the 4 female patients aged 56, 58 and 62 years, respectively. Conclusion: Fluvastatin could be used safely to increase the response to PEG-IFN and ribavirin, especially in aged women who respond poorly to combined PEG-IFN/ribavirin. (Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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