Randomized controlled trial of consensus interferon with or without zinc for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 2.
OBJECTIVE
The beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on the efficacy of interferon as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C had been demonstrated in hepatitis virus genotype 1b of high viral load. This study focused on patients with genotype 2, which is more sensitive to interferon than genotype 1b, and used consensus interferon (CIFN) with or without zinc.


METHODS
We randomized 83 patients with chronic hepatitis C to CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for 4 wk, followed by CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for another 20 wk, in combination with polaprezinc 300 mg (regimen A, n=41) or as monotherapy (regimen B, n=42). Thirty-one patients in regimen A and 33 patients in regimen B completed the clinical trial; the remaining patients withdrew because of side effects or a transfer to another hospital.


RESULTS
Sustained biochemical response, defined as a normal aminotransferase level at the end of the 6-mo post-treatment observation, was 68% and 69%, and sustained virological response, defined as undetectable HCV-RNA at the end of the 6-mo post-treatment observation, was 54% and 67% for regimens A and B, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CIFN treatment combined with zinc did not enhance the effect of CIFN as shown by biochemical, virological criteria. No side effects related to polaprezinc were noted.
Suzuki
Hideyuki
H
Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
Sato
Ken
K
Takagi
Hitoshi
H
Kanda
Daisuke
D
Sohara
Naondo
N
Kakizaki
Satoru
S
Nakajima
Hiroaki
H
Otsuka
Toshiyuki
T
Nagamine
Takeaki
T
Mori
Masatomo
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002336:Carnosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017967:Zinc Compounds
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C061957:polaprezinc; D002336:Carnosine; D007372:Interferons