title: Statin efficacy in the treatment of hepatitis C genotype I.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lipid metabolism is one of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle steps. Statins can reduce cholesterol level and finally can decrease HCV replication. Thus, we assessed the effect of Statins in combination with standard antiviral treatment on hyperlipidemic genotype I HCV infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective clinical trial. 40 patients were selected from those referred to educational and Therapeutic Centers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from 2009 to 2010 with confirmed HCV viremia. All patients received Peg-interferon-a2a and ribavirin. 20 hyperlipidemic Patients received 20 mg atorvastatin nightly for 3 months and placebo was prescribed for 20 normolipidemic HCV infected patients as a control group. Liver enzymes and complete blood count were checked monthly and thyroid stimulating hormone was checked every 3 months. We also performed quantitative HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) test in 12(th) week of therapy, at the end of treatment and 6 months after therapy for all samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We didn't find any significant differences in the mean of HCV-RNA numbers between statin and placebo groups in 12(th) week of treatment, in the end of treatment and 6 months after treatment (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atorvastatin has no effect on the mean of HCV viral load when we added it to standard treatment for hepatitis C infection. Further studies are necessary to examine the possible antiviral properties of statins and their potential role as adjuncts to standard HCV therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shavakhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minakari
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bighamian
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadeghian
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shavakhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khamisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodadustan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
keywords: Hepatitis C; hyperlipidemia; statins