title: Interferon-alpha improves bone resorption and osteopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon (IFN)-beta is known to be involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis. As IFN-alpha and -beta share the same receptor complex and signaling pathway, we speculated that treatment with IFN-alpha for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may provide a beneficial effect on bone loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDPD) of 41 patients with CHC who had been receiving IFN-alpha for 24 weeks was examined during the period of observation. Among them, eight patients showed a bone mineral density (BMD) of less than 0.850g/cm(2) before IFN therapy and they were examined a BMD again after completion of IFN administration. Relationships between the percentage difference of uDPD after discontinuation of IFN and various factors related to CHC were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mean uDPD of 7.1+/-3.4nM/mM creatinine before IFN therapy decreased to 4.5+/-2.4 in the 4th week and 4.2+/-2.7 in the 24th week of IFN therapy, respectively (p<0.0001). The reduction in uDPD was more prominent in cases with a lower viral load (p=0.0266). The BMD of the eight patients, which was less than 0.850g/cm(2) before IFN therapy, showed significant increase after the end of therapy (p=0.0172).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-alpha can improve bone resorption in CHC patients, especially in those with a lower viral load, and increased BMD. These effects are thought to be a result of direct action of IFN on bone homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Yasato
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komeda
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuda