Treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with amantadine.
BACKGROUND
Amantadine was reported to decrease serum alanine aminotransferase and HCV RNA levels in chronic hepatitis C patients who had not respond to interferon, but further experience has produced mixed results. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of amantadine in a larger number of patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Fifty-eight consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this open-label prospective study. The patients had either received no antiviral agents or interferon therapy had previously failed.


RESULTS
In 85% of the patients, the time-relation between therapy and reduction of serum aminotransferase levels suggested a potential anti-inflammatory activity of the drug without an effect on viremia. Seven patients discontinued the therapy because of side effects, and overall, side effects were observed in 31% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Amantadine monotherapy in chronic hepatitis C patients may be effective in terms of reducing biochemical markers, but this effect was not associated with loss of viremia.
Yagura
M
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo National Hospital, Kiyose, Japan.
Harada
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000547:Amantadine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D011446:Prospective Studies; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000547:Amantadine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase