Interferon-alpha improves bone resorption and osteopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Hepatology Research : the Official Journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
Naoshi NishidaYoshihiro Fukuda

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-beta is known to be involved in the regulation of bone homeostasis. As IFN-alpha and -beta share the same receptor complex and signaling pathway, we speculated that treatment with IFN-alpha for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may provide a beneficial effect on bone loss. Urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDPD) of 41 patients with CHC who had been receiving IFN-alpha for 24 weeks was examined during the period of observation. Among them, eight patients showed a bone mineral density (BMD) of less than 0.850g/cm(2) before IFN therapy and they were examined a BMD again after completion of IFN administration. Relationships between the percentage difference of uDPD after discontinuation of IFN and various factors related to CHC were also examined. A mean uDPD of 7.1+/-3.4nM/mM creatinine before IFN therapy decreased to 4.5+/-2.4 in the 4th week and 4.2+/-2.7 in the 24th week of IFN therapy, respectively (p<0.0001). The reduction in uDPD was more prominent in cases with a lower viral load (p=0.0266). The BMD of the eight patients, which was less than 0.850g/cm(2) before IFN therapy, showed significant increase after the end of therapy (p=0.0172). IFN-alpha can improve bone resorption in CHC patients, especially in those with a low...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 31, 2012·Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia·Luis Jesuino de Oliveira Andrade

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