Long-term combined therapy with very-low-dose peginterferon and ursodeoxycholic acid decreased the spleen size in a patient with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.
A 42-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis underwent peginterferon alpha-2b therapy combined with ribavirin but could not achieve a sustained viral response. Following discontinuation of this combined therapy, the patient's serum transaminase levels suddenly became elevated. Therefore, the administration of very-low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a with ursodeoxycholic acid was introduced. Thereafter, the patient's serum transaminase levels gradually improved. Four years later, enhanced computed tomography showed shrinkage of the spleen and enlargement of the liver. Long-term combined therapy with very-low-dose peginterferon and ursodeoxycholic acid may be effective not only in preventing disease progression, but also in improving portal hypertension in patients hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
Taiko
T
Anzai
Yasuhiro
Y
Miyake
Hisae
H
Yasuhara
Hirokazu
H
Miyatake
Akinori
A
Asagi
Akio
A
Moriya
Morihito
M
Nakatsu
Masaharu
M
Ando
Mamoru
M
Hirohata
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a