Effects of simvastatin in patients with viral chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: A geranyl-geranylated protein is synthesized during chronic hepatitis C virus replication; statins can inhibit this synthesis. We aimed at studying the effects of administrating simvastatin to patients who finished the standard antiviral therapy and who did not have hepatic cytolysis.

Methodology: A total of 101 patients were divided into 3 groups.

Lovastatin and fluvastatin reduce viremia and the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Backgrounds/aims: Certain statins interfere with the mechanism of the hepatitis C virus replication. We aimed at studying the effect of statins on the level of viremia and of the pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methodology: We took in our study all the patients with chronic hepatitis C placed in the evidence of the clinics of internal medicine of the Emergency County Clinical Hospitals of Braşov, Oradea and Sibiu, who had been identified with viremias.

Effects of lovastatin and pentoxyphyllin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background/aims: Today, there is no ideal treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The present study intended to make a multicentric prospective study about the efficiency of lovastatin and pentoxyphyllin administered in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Methodology: 87 patients were included in the present study.

Erythropoietin and the pro-inflammatory cytokines in chronic C hepatitis.

Background/aims: Erythropoietin has an antiinflammatory action. We proposed to study its effects on patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methodology: We studied a group of 96 hospitalized patients.