title: The benefit of statins in chronic hepatitis C patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Besides regulating lipid metabolism, statins have garnered considerable interest because of their antiviral and antineoplastic properties. The potential benefit of statins using in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients is not well described. This meta-analysis was carried out to quantitatively assess the efficacy of statins in improving the therapeutic effect and prognosis of patients with CHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched electronic databases for relevant studies comparing the course of benefit in CHC patients with statins versus without statins. Risk estimates were pooled to assess the association of statins use with sustained virological response and the prognosis of CHC patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 16 homogeneous studies showed that the sustained virological response rate increased by 31% [relative risk (RR)=1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.39] in 12 791 CHC patients with statins as an adjuvant under the general antiviral therapy compared with those without this adjuvant therapy. Moreover, meta-analysis of seven studies suggested that statins was beneficial on several specific poor outcomes of CHC patients (RR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.42-0.56). CHC patients with statin use were found to be inversely associated with a 55% reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (RR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.36-0.57) and 53% reduced risk of cirrhosis (RR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.33-0.67) as well as 44% reduced risk of mortality (RR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.46-0.69). However, significant heterogeneity and publication bias were present in some of our analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beneficial effects of statins use were found in the therapy and the prognosis of CHC patients. Further prospective studies are still needed to confirm these benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis of Hunan, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Peng-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rong-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xue-Gong
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors