Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Background. Reports by hepatologists indicated that anti-HCV antibodies might be detected in 71% to 84% of cases of post-transfusion hepatitis and in up to 50% of cases of sporadic non-A non-B hepatitis. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 0.05-1% of blood donors with normal alanine transaminase (A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
2002-01-01
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| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2002/0042-84500205479S.pdf |
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| author | Stanimirović Violeta Nikolić Dejan Stanimirović Branko Nikolić Aleksandra Čučak Spomenka |
| author_facet | Stanimirović Violeta Nikolić Dejan Stanimirović Branko Nikolić Aleksandra Čučak Spomenka |
| author_sort | Stanimirović Violeta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Reports by hepatologists indicated that anti-HCV antibodies might be detected in 71% to 84% of cases of post-transfusion hepatitis and in up to 50% of cases of sporadic non-A non-B hepatitis. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 0.05-1% of blood donors with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and negative anti-HBc screening. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 67% of patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse or autoimmune hepatitis, and in 10-30% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This indicated that hepatitis C virus was a major cause of the acute and chronic hepatitis throughout the world. Methods. This was a multicentric, international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. After the eight-week screening period, patients were randomized to receive daily ribavirin 1200 mg or placebo, during the 48-week treatment period. Follow-up observations were performed during a 16 week post-treatment period. Up to 80 male and female outpatients with mild to moderate chronic active hepatitis C virus infection were enrolled in this study. Results. During the treatment period ALT values were significantly lower in the ribavirin group. Neither in the ribavirin group, nor in the placebo group significant statistical differences of the HCV RNA values were found. Significantly lower portal inflammation was noticed in ribavirin group after the treatment. Analysis of laboratory data demonstrated that ribavirin therapy was associated with mild to moderate reversible anemia. Investigator’s evaluation of the effect of the therapy on patient’s well being showed statistically significant differences in the benefit of the ribavirin group. Conclusion. In this study ribavirin was more effective than placebo in reducing ALT levels during the treatment period of the applied therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis C. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d063e722a3804ea7a3b278ca3f9c95bd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0042-8450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2002-01-01 |
| publisher | Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| spelling | doaj-art-d063e722a3804ea7a3b278ca3f9c95bd2025-08-20T03:25:08ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502002-01-0159547948410.2298/VSP0205479SEvaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infectionStanimirović VioletaNikolić DejanStanimirović BrankoNikolić AleksandraČučak SpomenkaBackground. Reports by hepatologists indicated that anti-HCV antibodies might be detected in 71% to 84% of cases of post-transfusion hepatitis and in up to 50% of cases of sporadic non-A non-B hepatitis. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 0.05-1% of blood donors with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and negative anti-HBc screening. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 67% of patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse or autoimmune hepatitis, and in 10-30% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This indicated that hepatitis C virus was a major cause of the acute and chronic hepatitis throughout the world. Methods. This was a multicentric, international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. After the eight-week screening period, patients were randomized to receive daily ribavirin 1200 mg or placebo, during the 48-week treatment period. Follow-up observations were performed during a 16 week post-treatment period. Up to 80 male and female outpatients with mild to moderate chronic active hepatitis C virus infection were enrolled in this study. Results. During the treatment period ALT values were significantly lower in the ribavirin group. Neither in the ribavirin group, nor in the placebo group significant statistical differences of the HCV RNA values were found. Significantly lower portal inflammation was noticed in ribavirin group after the treatment. Analysis of laboratory data demonstrated that ribavirin therapy was associated with mild to moderate reversible anemia. Investigator’s evaluation of the effect of the therapy on patient’s well being showed statistically significant differences in the benefit of the ribavirin group. Conclusion. In this study ribavirin was more effective than placebo in reducing ALT levels during the treatment period of the applied therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis C.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2002/0042-84500205479S.pdfhepatitis C, chronicribavirinalanine transaminaseblood cell counthematocrithepacivirus |
| spellingShingle | Stanimirović Violeta Nikolić Dejan Stanimirović Branko Nikolić Aleksandra Čučak Spomenka Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection Vojnosanitetski Pregled hepatitis C, chronic ribavirin alanine transaminase blood cell count hematocrit hepacivirus |
| title | Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection |
| title_full | Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection |
| title_short | Evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection |
| title_sort | evaluation of ribavirin efficacy and tolerance in subjects with chronic hepatitis c virus infection |
| topic | hepatitis C, chronic ribavirin alanine transaminase blood cell count hematocrit hepacivirus |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2002/0042-84500205479S.pdf |
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