title: Suramin treatment for chronic active hepatitis B--toxic and ineffective.
abstract: Suramin has recently been shown to inhibit the activity of the duck hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase (DHBV DNAp) in vitro. However, we found no demonstrable in vivo suppression of human hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase (HBV DNAp) activity in three male patients with severe chronic active hepatitis. Suramin treatment resulted in prolongation of the prothrombin time in all cases and a rise in bilirubin in two and it may have led to haemorrhage from oesophageal varices in one patient and to hepatic encephalopathy in another. Its use in chronic hepatitis is not recommended.
mesh_terms: D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000139:chemically induced; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000201:enzymology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013498:Suramin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013498:Suramin