title: Effects of pegylated interferon α on fibrinolytic parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Interferon (IFN) interacts with endothelial cells and modulates the functions of these cells. In our study, we aimed to determine the effects of treatment with pegylated IFN-α (peg-IFN-α) on fibrinolytic parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Fifteen patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with peg-IFN-α once per week plus daily oral ribavirin. Euglobulin lysis time (ELT), plasma levels of D-dimer, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) were determined before treatment, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the initiation of the treatment. Plasma levels of t-PA increased significantly 1 month and 3 months after the treatment (P < .05). The PAI-1 and TAFI levels in 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after treatment were not statistically different as compared with pretreatment levels (P > .05) No significant difference in plasma D-dimer levels was observed during peg-IFN-α treatment (P > .05). There was a significant decrease in ELT 1 month and 3 months after the treatment (P < .05). Our results indicated that treatment with peg-IFN-α may be associated with enhanced fibrinolysis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey. ayla.akoz@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gokmen
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ustundag
authors.forename: Nefise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oztoprak
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Ishak Ozel
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakal
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D012254:Ribavirin; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator