A significant reduction in serum alanine aminotransferase levels after 3-month iron reduction therapy for chronic hepatitis C: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial in Japan.
J Gastroenterol
; 39(6): 570-4, 2004 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15235875
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Increasing evidence indicates that iron cytotoxicity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, the biochemical effects of iron reduction therapy on CHC remain to be confirmed in a controlled study. This study aimed to test whether iron removal by repeated phlebotomy improves serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in patients with CHC.METHODS:
Patients were randomly assigned to an iron reduction therapy or control group. The patients in the treatment group received 3-month iron reduction therapy by biweekly phlebotomy, while the patients in the control group were followed up for 3 months with regular blood tests alone.RESULTS:
Thirty-three patients completed the 3-month treatment, while 29 patients received the complete follow-up. The serum ALT levels were reduced from 118 +/- 79 to 73 +/- 39 IU/L in the treatment group, but did not change in the control group (106 +/- 45 versus 107 +/- 48 IU/L). Posttreatment enzyme activity was decreased significantly from the baseline. Furthermore, it was significantly lower than the 3-month control level. Although 5 patients withdrew from the study, none was affected by any side effects of repeated phlebotomy that required them to discontinue the treatment.CONCLUSIONS:
This short-term controlled trial demonstrated the biochemical efficacy and safety of iron reduction therapy for patients with CHC.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Flebotomia
/
Sobrecarga de Ferro
/
Hepatite C Crônica
/
Alanina Transaminase
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article