title: Sexual dysfunction in chronic hepatitis C virus patients treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin.
abstract: The effects on sexual behavior in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN alpha plus ribavirin is an understudied field. The aim of our study was to evaluate this treatment on sexual behavior. We enrolled 170 male patients affected by chronic hepatitis C that received three MIU intramuscular leukocyte Interferon alpha plus Ribavirin thrice a week for 12 months. We assessed IFN influence by using the responses to International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The baseline values of each IIEF score were compared to those obtained at the end of months 1, 3, 6, and 12 as well as at the end of the follow-up period. At the end of month 1, we detected a significant reduction of IIEF scores with respect to basal values, for all administered items. These values were similar to those found at the end of month 3 for almost all parameters, being increased in only the scores of erectile function. At the end of treatment, all scores appeared reincreased, but only mean score of erectile function appeared similar to pretreatment value. The organism adapts itself in someway to the action of cytokine. Psychological influence of IFN on the patients could justify the partial impairment of sensation linked to sexual behavior. Our study provided some more information in quantification and qualification of sexual disturbances related to IFN plus Ribavirin administration in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. malaguar@unict.it
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malaguarnera
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calogero
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cammalleri
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Di Fazio
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gargante
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Risino
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranno
authors.forename: Liborio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin