Increased serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase concentration is associated with nonalcoholic steatosis and not with cholestasis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: Increased pretreatment gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gammaGT) is common in patients with chronic hepatitis C and with little or no alcohol consumption. The mechanism involved in this phenomenon is unclear, and the aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with increased gammaGT levels, specifically looking at the role of cholestasis that frequently accompanies hepatitis C.

Methods: Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C enrolled in two trials of antiviral treatment, 25 with normal and 25 with elevated pretreatment gammaGT levels, were retrospectively selected.

Ursodeoxycholic acid does not affect ethinylestradiol bioavailability in women taking oral contraceptives.

Objective: Contraception is recommended for female patients during ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment for the potential teratogenic effect of this bile acid, and the aim of our study was to determine whether this treatment affects the bioavailability of ethinylestradiol (EE2).

Methods: In this double-blind, randomised study, we measured EE2 pharmacokinetics in eight healthy volunteers randomly allocated to receive oral contraceptive (30 microg EE2 and 75 microg gestodene) plus either UDCA (8-10 mg/kg per day) or placebo for 21 days during the first of three consecutive menstrual cycles. After a washout period during the second cycle, the subjects received the alternative treatment during the third menstrual cycle.

A randomised, open label, controlled trial on the effect of interferon plus amantadine compared with interferon alone for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Combination of the antiviral drug amantadine with interferon (IFN) may be more effective than IFN monotherapy for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: We randomised 93 patients with chronic hepatitis C to IFNIFN 6 MU 3 times/week for 24 weeks, followed by IFN 3 MU 3 times/week for further 24 weeks given in combination with amantadine 100 mg t.i.

Efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy with interferon-alfa plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a single-center study in relapsers and nonresponders to previous treatment with high-dose interferon-alfa monotherapy.

Background: In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, interferon (IFN) monotherapy usually is carried out at doses of 3 to 6 million units (MU) 3 times per week, but treatment efficacy is low.

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of IFN-alfa2b in combination with ribavirin in relapsers and nonresponders to high-dose IFN treatment (5 to 6 MU 3 times per week). We measured the biochemical and virologic responses to treatment and the risk for relapse during the 24 weeks following the end of treatment.

A controlled randomised trial of t-UDCA as adjuvant to interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: an interferon sparing effect of t-UDCA.

BACKGROUND: Combination of the cytoprotective effect of tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid (t-UDCA) with the antiviral effect of interferon may be more effective than interferon alone for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: We randomised 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon 3 MU/m(2)/3 times per week given alone (regimen A, n=51) or in combination with t-UDCA 10 mg/kg/day (regimen B, n=55) for 6 months followed by IFN dose tapering for further 6 months. Control liver biopsies were obtained 6 months after stopping treatment.