| Theme | An Update on Hepatitis C Treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Therapy for Patients with HCV-Associated Chronic Hepatitis by Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Including Stronger-neo-minophagen C and Ursodeoxychoric Acid with Special Reference to Multi-agents Therapy | |
| Publish Date | 2003/11 | |
| Author | Kazuo Tarao | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| Author | Shinichi Ohkawa | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| Author | Kaoru Miyakawa | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| Author | Takahiro Masaki | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| Author | Satoru Hirokawa | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| Author | Makoto Ueno | Department of Gastroenterology, Kanagawa Cancer Center |
| [ Summary ] | We tried to alleviate hepatic inflammation in patients with HCV-associated chronic hepatitis using ordinary anti-inflammatory drugs such as SNMC, UDCA, Sho-saiko-to and Juzen-taiho-to, included combination therapy, aimed at sustained low serum ALT levels<80 INU. We succeeded in maintaining the serum ALT levels below 80 INU continuously in 57.1% of patients. Also the incidence of HCC in three patients was as low as 0.7% per year. Out of the 40 patients whose serum ALT levels fell below 80 INU continuously, 21 patients (52.5%) were successfully treated using only one drug. In the remaining 19 patients (47.5%), this level was reached by using combination therapies, such as SNMC+UDCA,UDCA+Sho-saiko-to, SNMC+UDCA+Sho-saiko-to or SNMC+UDCA+Juzen-taiho-to. It was demonstrated that the sustained alleviation of inflammation by ordinary anti-inflammatory drugs can be reached only by using combination therapy including two or three agents in about half of the patients. |
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