Role of statins in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

This study assessed the clinical outcome of fluvastatin in addition to the standard regimen used now for treatment of chronic HCV in Egypt. A total of 80 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection fulfilled clinical, laboratory and histo-pathological criteria were ready for interferon therapy. They were divided into two groups: GI (N = 40) received standard treatment for HCV (Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin) and GII (N = 40) received standard treatment plus Fluvastatin (80 mg/daily). Six months before and after treatment liver function tests and HCV-RNA were evaluated. The results showed that addition of Fluvastatin to the standard HCV treatment (Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin) significantly increased sustained virological response (SVR) from (55%-62.5%; P < 0.01) and significantly decreased viral load in relapse patients (P < 0.001). No significant differences and correlations were found between serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and viral load before and after treatment in both groups.