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Erschienen in:
01.07.2002 | Original Research Article
Effects of Carnitine on Biochemical Responses in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon-α
Erschienen in: Clinical Drug Investigation | Ausgabe 7/2002
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Background
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important healthcare problem worldwide as more than 90% of affected patients develop chronic infection. Carnitine is a fundamental substance in the production and dissemination of cellular energy and has previously been shown to improve the clinical response to interferon (IFN)-α treatment. We compared the effects of carnitine plus IFNα versus IFN alone in patients with chronic HCV-related active hepatitis C.
Patients and methods
70 patients with chronic hepatitis C diagnosed by clinical, humoral and histological findings were eligible for this randomised study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group A received IFNa 3 million IU three times a week for 6 months, while group B received the same dosage of IFNα plus carnitine 2g orally daily.
Results
After 6 months’ treatment, 11 of 35 patients who received IFNα alone compared with 14 of 35 who received IFNα plus carnitine were considered to be complete responders. No statistically significant differences were reported between the two groups with regard to viral and histological responses. Patients who received carnitine in addition to IFNα tended to have more favourable changes in some biochemical parameters (including alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides) than patients who received IFNα alone, but these changes were not statistically significant. Patients treated with carnitine showed less fatigue and myalgia and better maintenance of bodyweight than those who did not receive carnitine.
Conclusion
Our data showed that administering carnitine with IFNα may reduce some of the adverse effects related to the cytokine, such as myalgia and fatigue, thereby potentially improving compliance and the quality of life of treated patients. Notably, carnitine does not seem to affect the viral and histological response to IFNα in HCV-related chronic hepatitis.