Inflammatory markers neopterin and alanine aminotransferase in HCV patients treated with HCV NS3*4A protease inhibitor telaprevir (VX-950) and/or peginterferon alfa-2a

[Guest guest]

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2008 Apr 10:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Inflammatory markers neopterin and alanine aminotransferase in HCV patients

treated with HCV NS3*4A protease inhibitor telaprevir (VX-950) and/or

peginterferon alfa-2a.

Gelderblom HC, Zeuzem S, Weegink CJ, Forestier N, McNair L, Purdy S, Dijkgraaf

MG, Jansen PL, Reesink HW.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AMC Liver Center.

Objective. Neopterin is a marker of monocyte/macrophage activity. Alanine

aminotransferase (ALAT) is a marker of hepatocyte injury. The aim of this study

was to determine changes in neopterin and ALAT levels, as markers of

inflammation, in two ancillary studies during two-phase 1b trials of hepatitis C

virus (HCV) NS3*4A protease inhibitor telaprevir (VX-950), with or without

peginterferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFN). Material and methods. Fifty-four chronic

hepatitis C patients (genotype 1) received placebo or telaprevir, with or

without Peg-IFN, for 14 days in two multiple-dose studies. Results. During

administration of telaprevir, every patient demonstrated a>2-log decrease in HCV

RNA. Mean neopterin and ALAT levels decreased in all four groups receiving

telaprevir alone. In contrast, mean neopterin levels increased and ALAT levels

decreased in the Peg-IFN plus telaprevir and Peg-IFN plus placebo groups.

Conclusions. These data suggest that treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients

with an HCV NS3*4A protease inhibitor ameliorates inflammation. The increase in

neopterin levels and the decrease in ALAT levels during administration of

Peg-IFN with or without telaprevir are in accordance with earlier observations

showing that IFN reduces hepatocyte injury but increases monocyte/macrophage

activity. The IFN-mediated immunomodulatory effects appear to remain intact when

IFN is combined with telaprevir.

PMID: 18609142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

_________________________________________________________________

Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety.

http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_family_\

safety_072008

[Guest guest]

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2008 Apr 10:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Inflammatory markers neopterin and alanine aminotransferase in HCV patients

treated with HCV NS3*4A protease inhibitor telaprevir (VX-950) and/or

peginterferon alfa-2a.

Gelderblom HC, Zeuzem S, Weegink CJ, Forestier N, McNair L, Purdy S, Dijkgraaf

MG, Jansen PL, Reesink HW.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AMC Liver Center.

Objective. Neopterin is a marker of monocyte/macrophage activity. Alanine

aminotransferase (ALAT) is a marker of hepatocyte injury. The aim of this study

was to determine changes in neopterin and ALAT levels, as markers of

inflammation, in two ancillary studies during two-phase 1b trials of hepatitis C

virus (HCV) NS3*4A protease inhibitor telaprevir (VX-950), with or without

peginterferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFN). Material and methods. Fifty-four chronic

hepatitis C patients (genotype 1) received placebo or telaprevir, with or

without Peg-IFN, for 14 days in two multiple-dose studies. Results. During

administration of telaprevir, every patient demonstrated a>2-log decrease in HCV

RNA. Mean neopterin and ALAT levels decreased in all four groups receiving

telaprevir alone. In contrast, mean neopterin levels increased and ALAT levels

decreased in the Peg-IFN plus telaprevir and Peg-IFN plus placebo groups.

Conclusions. These data suggest that treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients

with an HCV NS3*4A protease inhibitor ameliorates inflammation. The increase in

neopterin levels and the decrease in ALAT levels during administration of

Peg-IFN with or without telaprevir are in accordance with earlier observations

showing that IFN reduces hepatocyte injury but increases monocyte/macrophage

activity. The IFN-mediated immunomodulatory effects appear to remain intact when

IFN is combined with telaprevir.

PMID: 18609142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

_________________________________________________________________

Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety.

http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_family_\

safety_072008