Afro-Egypt J Infect Endem Dis 2012 December;2(4):168-177

 

A Study of the Effect of the Use of Antioxidants in Patients with Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon/Ribavirin Therapy on the Response to Therapy

 

Hegazy IM, Elbadrawy EG, Khorshid SE, Elnemr S, Fathy T, Metwally A, Ismael M, Gouda AA

 

Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University,Egypt
dr.amaljouda@yahoo.com

 

                              

 

ABSTRACT

Background and study aim: Treatment of HCV with interferon takes a long duration and has many side effects. The use of antioxidants with interferon/ribavirin therapy is believed to minimize the side effects and improves adherence and hence improves response to therapy. Reactive oxygen species are part of the human defense mechanisms towards infection and they increase due to hepatitis C virus infection. In this study we aim to study the impact of the concomitant use of antioxidants with interferon/ribavirin combination therapy for HCV on response as regards enzymes level, rate of viral clearance as well as liver histopathology.

Patients and methods: 240 patients on interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C divided in two groups. The test group received concomitant antioxidant combination while the control group received only interferon/ribavirin. Follow up of liver function tests, complete blood count, viral load by PCR and post treatment histopathology by liver biopsy were performed.

Results :Liver enzymes level in test group achieved a larger and faster decline than in control group. Hematological parameters were significantly higher in the test group all through period of follow up. Viral load and histopathology showed no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion : concomitant use of antioxidants with interferon/ ribavirin therapy minimizes complications of therapy and rapidly normalizes the liver enzymes level without affecting the rate of response to therapy or histopathology of the liver.