title: Histamine dihydrochloride: actions and efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection.
abstract: The host immune response, in addition to viral factors, is the critical determinant of the pathological consequences of hepatitis C virus infection. Current therapies for genotype 1 are unsuccessful in a substantial number of patients. Histamine dihydrochloride by virtue of its histamine H2 agonistic activity, has the potential to prevent damage induced by oxidative stress in tissues and can protect T and natural killer lymphocytes from oxygen radical-induced functional inhibition and apoptosis, thereby, potentiating interferon-alpha-induced activation of these cells. Coadministration of histamine dihydrochloride and interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection was tested in several clinical trials. However, conflicting data and the relatively small numbers of patients enrolled, suggest that this combination should be the focus of further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Jerusalem, IL91120, POB 12000, Israel. lalazar@hadassah.org.il
authors.forename: Gadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lalazar
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ilan
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006632:Histamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D006632:Histamine