A controlled randomised trial of t-UDCA as adjuvant to interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: an interferon sparing effect of t-UDCA.
BACKGROUND: Combination of the cytoprotective effect of tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid (t-UDCA) with the antiviral effect of interferon may be more effective than interferon alone for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: We randomised 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon 3 MU/m(2)/3 times per week given alone (regimen A, n=51) or in combination with t-UDCA 10 mg/kg/day (regimen B, n=55) for 6 months followed by IFN dose tapering for further 6 months. Control liver biopsies were obtained 6 months after stopping treatment. RESULTS: At the end of the trial a similar proportion of patients had normal serum alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) levels (41 and 44%) and negative viremia (42 and 43%) with regimens A and B, respectively. The effect on liver histology was also similar, and the Knodell score decreased by 2.9+/-0.4 points with both regimens. During the dose tapering phase, the cumulative interferon dose to maintain ALT activity within the normal range was significantly lower for regimen B (142+/-4 million units, MU) than for regimen A (180+/-12 MU, P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant t-UDCA exerts an 'interferon sparing effect' that may be of value for patients intolerant to high dose interferon.
Gracielle
Pigozzi
P
Department of Medicine, Ospedale di Cremona, Italy
Roberta
Sorbara
S
Ornella
Baisini
B
Luciana
Di
D
Alessandro
Reggiani
R
Daniela
Quattrocchi
Q
Gianpaolo
Lorini
L
Grazia
De
D
Lamberto
Bettini
B
Anna
Cominotti
C
Maurizio
Favret
F
Alberto
Lanzini
L