title: [Preliminary study on therapeutic effect of oxymatrine in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of oxymatrine in treating chronic hepatitis C and its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patient were divided randomly into the treated group (20 cases) and the control group (23 cases). The treated group was given oxymatrine 600 mg per day intramuscularly, and the control group was given the general liver protective agents such as vitamins. The therapeutic course of both groups was 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCVRNA of 8 in 17 cases (47.1%) of the treated group converted to negative, while in 18 cases of the control group, the negative conversion only took place in 1 patient (5.6%), the negative conversion rate was significantly higher in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The normalization rates of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) of the treated group after 1 month and 2 months treatment was higher than that of the control group, but after 3 months treatment, the normalization rates of the two groups were not different significantly. Plasma level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and serum level of collagen type IV in the treated group were lowered significantly after treatment, but in the control group, there were no significant change, the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxymatrine is effective in inhibiting proliferation of HCV, antagonisting liver fibrosis and regulating immune reaction of the host, so it could be a safe, effective drug in treating chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Renji Hospital of Shanghai, Second Medical University, Shanghai 200001.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011807:Quinolizines; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011807:Quinolizines; D012367:RNA, Viral; C037573:oxymatrine; D000093842:Matrines