title: Role of statins in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: This study assessed the clinical outcome of fluvastatin in addition to the standard regimen used now for treatment of chronic HCV in Egypt. A total of 80 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection fulfilled clinical, laboratory and histo-pathological criteria were ready for interferon therapy. They were divided into two groups: GI (N = 40) received standard treatment for HCV (Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin) and GII (N = 40) received standard treatment plus Fluvastatin (80 mg/daily). Six months before and after treatment liver function tests and HCV-RNA were evaluated. The results showed that addition of Fluvastatin to the standard HCV treatment (Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin) significantly increased sustained virological response (SVR) from (55%-62.5%; P < 0.01) and significantly decreased viral load in relapse patients (P < 0.001). No significant differences and correlations were found between serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and viral load before and after treatment in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abd-Eldaem
authors.forename: Mohammed K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Azmy
authors.forename: Youssef K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Gamal A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Badr
authors.forename: Mousa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Houssein
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El-Dahshan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000077340:Fluvastatin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a