title: Association of alpha-interferon and acetyl cysteine in patients with chronic C hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous experimental findings have underlined the relationships between liver damage and production of oxygen-derived free radicals during inflammation. In chronic hepatitis C liver disease this damage may be attributed to altered oxide-reductive balance and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Moreover, it may be linked to chronic inflammation provoked by the replicative activity of the hepatitis C virus and its relationships with immune system cells. Our aim was to assess the effects of combined IFN + NAC treatment to compare the effects of interferon alpha-n1 associated with N-acetyl cysteine treatment with the results observed using interferon therapy alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective randomised study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory and hospitalised care.
  
  
  METHODS
  77 selected patients affected by chronic C hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  our patients were investigated by laboratory tests (ALT values, RIBA test, HCV-RNA, oxide-reductive balance), liver biopsy and liver US. The recruited subjects were treated with interferon and N-acetyl cysteine or with interferon alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings confirmed the presence of oxidative stress in patients with chronic hepatitis C and showed earlier relapse in patients treated with interferon alone. The difference between the results in patients treated with interferon and N-acetyl cysteine and those on interferon alone was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The good results and absence of side effects in patients treated with interferon + N-acetyl cysteine recommend wider use of this association.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ierna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antoci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campanile
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noto
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine