BACKGROUND: Hepatic steatosis is a common presentation in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Interferon alpha exerts both antiviral and immunomodulating actions, and influences on lipid metabolism. The aim of our study was to test whether L-carnitine reduces steatosis in patients treated withinterferon and ribavirin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients were randomly assigned to receive either leucocyte IFN alpha at a dose of 3 MIU thrice a week plus 1,000 mg ribavirin per day for 12 months (group A) or IFN alpha and ribavirin at the same dose plus 2 g carnitine per day (group B). RESULTS: Comparison of the two treatments showed significant differences between the mean values of the following parameters at the end of the treatment: ALT -68 vs -95 IU/ml (P < 0.05), total cholesterol 0.08 vs -0.91 mmol/l (P < 0.05) and triglycerides +0.25 vs -20 mmol/l (P < 0.05); and at the follow-up: AST -35 vs -65 IU/ml (P < 0.05) and ALT -55 vs -84 IU/ml (P < 0.05). All values were lower in group B (IFN + Ribavirin + Carnitine) than in group A (IFN plus Ribavirin). When comparing those patients treated withIFN + ribavirin with those treated with IFN plus ribavirin plus carnitine, the response at the end of the treatment was 48% vs 56%, and the sustained response 39% vs 46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with L: -carnitine, ribavirin and IFN alpha resulted in greater antihyperlipidaemic effects and than with ribavirin and IFN alpha alone. The results of this study suggest that L: -carnitine may have a role among the reduction of steatosis strategies in patients with hepatitis C treated with IFN alpha andribavirin.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Hepatic steatosis is a common presentation in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Interferon alpha exerts both antiviral and immunomodulating actions, and influences on lipid metabolism. The aim of our study was to test whether L-carnitine reduces steatosis in patients treated with interferon and ribavirin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients were randomly assigned to receive either leucocyte IFN alpha at a dose of 3 MIU thrice a week plus 1,000 mg ribavirin per day for 12 months (group A) or IFN alpha and ribavirin at the same dose plus 2 g carnitine per day (group B). RESULTS: Comparison of the two treatments showed significant differences between the mean values of the following parameters at the end of the treatment: ALT -68 vs -95 IU/ml (P < 0.05), total cholesterol 0.08 vs -0.91 mmol/l (P < 0.05) and triglycerides +0.25 vs -20 mmol/l (P < 0.05); and at the follow-up: AST -35 vs -65 IU/ml (P < 0.05) and ALT -55 vs -84 IU/ml (P < 0.05). All values were lower in group B (IFN + Ribavirin + Carnitine) than in group A (IFN plus Ribavirin). When comparing those patients treated with IFN + ribavirin with those treated with IFN plus ribavirin plus carnitine, the response at the end of the treatment was 48% vs 56%, and the sustained response 39% vs 46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with L: -carnitine, ribavirin and IFN alpha resulted in greater antihyperlipidaemic effects and than with ribavirin and IFN alpha alone. The results of this study suggest that L: -carnitine may have a role among the reduction of steatosis strategies in patients with hepatitis C treated with IFN alpha and ribavirin.
Authors: V Ratziu; P Giral; F Charlotte; E Bruckert; V Thibault; I Theodorou; L Khalil; G Turpin; P Opolon; T Poynard Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2000-06 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Dae Won Jun; Byung Ik Kim; Yong Kyun Cho; Hong Ju Kim; Young Oh Kwon; Soo Young Park; Sang Young Han; Yang Hyun Baek; Yong Jin Jung; Hwi Young Kim; Won Kim; Jeong Heo; Hyun Young Woo; Seong Gyu Hwang; Kyu Sung Rim; Jong Young Choi; Si Hyun Bae; Young Sang Lee; Young Suck Lim; Jae Youn Cheong; Sung Won Cho; Byung Seok Lee; Seok Hyun Kim; Joo Hyun Sohn; Tae Yeob Kim; Yong Han Paik; Ja Kyung Kim; Kwan Sik Lee Journal: Clin Mol Hepatol Date: 2013-06-27
Authors: Maryam Mahjoubin-Tehran; Antonio De Vincentis; Dimitri P Mikhailidis; Stephen L Atkin; Christos S Mantzoros; Tannaz Jamialahmadi; Amirhossein Sahebkar Journal: Mol Metab Date: 2020-07-13 Impact factor: 7.422