L-carnitine treatment reduces steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with alpha-interferon and ribavirin.
BACKGROUND
Hepatic steatosis is a common presentation in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Interferon alpha exerts both antiviral and immunomodulating actions, and influences on lipid metabolism. The aim of our study was to test whether L-carnitine reduces steatosis in patients treated with interferon and ribavirin.


METHODS
A total of 70 patients were randomly assigned to receive either leucocyte IFN alpha at a dose of 3 MIU thrice a week plus 1,000 mg ribavirin per day for 12 months (group A) or IFN alpha and ribavirin at the same dose plus 2 g carnitine per day (group B).


RESULTS
Comparison of the two treatments showed significant differences between the mean values of the following parameters at the end of the treatment: ALT -68 vs -95 IU/ml (P < 0.05), total cholesterol 0.08 vs -0.91 mmol/l (P < 0.05) and triglycerides +0.25 vs -20 mmol/l (P < 0.05); and at the follow-up: AST -35 vs -65 IU/ml (P < 0.05) and ALT -55 vs -84 IU/ml (P < 0.05). All values were lower in group B (IFN + Ribavirin + Carnitine) than in group A (IFN plus Ribavirin). When comparing those patients treated with IFN + ribavirin with those treated with IFN plus ribavirin plus carnitine, the response at the end of the treatment was 48% vs 56%, and the sustained response 39% vs 46%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined treatment with L: -carnitine, ribavirin and IFN alpha resulted in greater antihyperlipidaemic effects and than with ribavirin and IFN alpha alone. The results of this study suggest that L: -carnitine may have a role among the reduction of steatosis strategies in patients with hepatitis C treated with IFN alpha and ribavirin.
Romano
Marcello
M
Department Of Senescence, Urological And Neurological Sciences Ospedale Cannizzaro, Viale Messina, 829-95125 Catania, Italy.
Vacante
Marco
M
Cristaldi
Erika
E
Colonna
Valentina
V
Gargante
Maria Pia
MP
Cammalleri
Lisa
L
Malaguarnera
Mariano
M
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D012254:Ribavirin; D002331:Carnitine