AIM： The beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on the efficacy of interferon as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C had been demonstrated in hepatitis virus genotype lb of high viral load. This study focused on p...AIM： The beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on the efficacy of interferon as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C had been demonstrated in hepatitis virus genotype lb of high viral load. This study focused on patients with genotype 2, which is more sensitive to interferon than genotype lb, and used consensus interferon （CIFN） with or without zinc. METHODS： We randomized 83 patients with chronic hepatitis C to CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for 4 wk, followed by CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for another 20 wk, in combination with polaprezinc 300 mg （regimen A, n = 41） or as monotherapy （regimen B, n = 42）. Thirtyone patients in regimen A and 33 patients in regimen B completed the clinical trial; the remaining patients withdrew because of side effects or a transfer to another hospital. RESULTS： Sustained biochemical response, defined as a normal aminotransferase level at the end of the 6-too post-treatment observation, was 68% and 69%, and sustained virological response, defined as undetectable HCV-RNA at the end of the 6-too post-treatment observation, was 54% and 67% for regimens A and B, respectively. CONCLUSION： CIFN treatment combined with zinc did not enhance the effect of CIFN as shown by biochemical, virological criteria. No side effects related to polaprezinc were noted.展开更多
基金Supported by the grant center of Excellence,Biomedical research using accelerator technology,Gunma,Japan
文摘AIM： The beneficial effect of zinc supplementation on the efficacy of interferon as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C had been demonstrated in hepatitis virus genotype lb of high viral load. This study focused on patients with genotype 2, which is more sensitive to interferon than genotype lb, and used consensus interferon （CIFN） with or without zinc. METHODS： We randomized 83 patients with chronic hepatitis C to CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for 4 wk, followed by CIFN at 18 MIU six times/wk for another 20 wk, in combination with polaprezinc 300 mg （regimen A, n = 41） or as monotherapy （regimen B, n = 42）. Thirtyone patients in regimen A and 33 patients in regimen B completed the clinical trial; the remaining patients withdrew because of side effects or a transfer to another hospital. RESULTS： Sustained biochemical response, defined as a normal aminotransferase level at the end of the 6-too post-treatment observation, was 68% and 69%, and sustained virological response, defined as undetectable HCV-RNA at the end of the 6-too post-treatment observation, was 54% and 67% for regimens A and B, respectively. CONCLUSION： CIFN treatment combined with zinc did not enhance the effect of CIFN as shown by biochemical, virological criteria. No side effects related to polaprezinc were noted.
