Disulfiram therapy in patients with hepatitis C: a 12-month, controlled, follow-up study.
J Stud Alcohol
; 65(5): 651-7, 2004 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15536776
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Although abstinence slows liver injury in alcoholic Hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients, few clinicians prescribe disulfiram because of concern over its hepatotoxic effect. Finding no controlled studies on this effect, we investigated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) patterns in seropositive (HCV[+]) and seronegative (HCV[-]) patients who received supervised disulfiram over 12 months.METHOD:
We recorded retrospective aminotransferase measurements from medical records of 26 HCV(+) and 20 HCV(-) cases receiving 1500 mg disulfiram weekly in divided doses. Within groups, paired mean AST and ALT levels at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were compared with baseline; between groups, nonpaired mean comparisons were used.RESULTS:
There were no statistically or clinically significant elevations for the HCV(+) group at any time point. Between-group means were identical at all time points.CONCLUSIONS:
Although sample size and retrospective design invite replication, the data suggest that disulfiram may be useful for HCV(+) alcohol-dependent patients in slowing hepatic injury by eliminating alcohol use and thereby removing the purported alcohol-HCV hepatotoxic synergy. It may also help to establish the abstinence criteria necessary to qualify for antiviral treatment. If disulfiram is used in HCV treatment, AST and ALT must be monitored closely.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Hepatite C
/
Dissulfiram
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Stud Alcohol
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos