The effect of ribavirin on bone density in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-ribavirin therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ribavirin on bone mineral metabolism in patients with chronic hepatitis C who had been treated with interferon and ribavirin.


METHODS
Twenty patients (3 female, 17 male) with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled. Age range was 6 to 15 years (mean+/-SD, 11.15+/- 2.3 years). Thirteen patients received combined interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin therapy (Group 1), and 7 patients received only interferon alpha-2b (Group 2). Both groups were treated for 12 months. Bone mineral density, z-scores and biochemical bone markers were evaluated in both groups before and after treatment.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups in age or gender. Mean lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and mean z-scores in groups 1 and 2 before and after treatment were not significantly different. In both groups, serum and urinary biochemical values and bone markers were all normal and there were no differences between the pretreatment and post-treatment values.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to studies in adults, we did not find any ribavirin-dependent changes related to bone mineral metabolism in our pediatric study groups. Further studies are needed to obtain more detailed information about the effects of ribavirin on bone mineral density.
Urganci
Nafiye
N
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Clinic of Pediatrics, Sisli Etfal Hospital, Sema Vural, Turkey. nafiyeuganci@yahoo.com
Gulec
Seda Geylani
SG
Arapoglu
Mujde
M
Vural
Sema
S
Nuhoğ
Asiye
A
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin