Interferon augments the anti-fibrotic activity of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

AIM:

To evaluate the effect of combination treatment with the interferon (IFN) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) on several fibrotic indices in patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODS:

Perindopril (an ACE-I; 4 mg/d) and/or natural IFN (3 MU/L; 3 times a week) were administered for 12 mo to refractory CHC patients, and several indices of serum fibrosis markers were analyzed.

RESULTS:

ACE-I decreased the serum fibrosis markers, whereas single treatment with IFN did not exert these inhibitory effects. However, IFN significantly augmented the effects of ACE-I, and the combination treatment exerted the most potent inhibitory effects. The serum levels of alanine transaminase and HCV-RNA were not significantly different between the groups, whereas the plasma level of transforming growth factor-beta was significantly attenuated almost in parallel with suppression of the serum fibrosis markers.

CONCLUSION:

The combination therapy of an ACE-I and IFN may have a diverse effect on disease progression in patients with CHC refractory to IFN therapy through its anti-fibrotic effect.

• Authors: Hitoshi Yoshiji, Ryuichi Noguchi, Hideyuki Kojima, Yasuhide Ikenaka, Mitsuteru Kitade, Kosuke Kaji, Masahito Uemura, Junichi Yamao, Masao Fujimoto, Masaharu Yamazaki, Masahisa Toyohara, Akira Mitoro, Hiroshi Fukui
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 12 Issue 42 Pg. 6786-91 (Nov 14 2006) ISSN: 1007-9327 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17106926 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Antiviral Agents
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Interferons
• Perindopril

Topics

• Aged
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Drug Resistance
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferons (therapeutic use)
• Liver Cirrhosis (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Perindopril (therapeutic use)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (blood)