Association of alpha-interferon and acetyl cysteine in patients with chronic C hepatitis.
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.
Neri
S
S
Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.
Ierna
D
D
Antoci
S
S
Campanile
E
E
D'Amico
R A
RA
Noto
R
R
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
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine