The Effect of Adding Metformin to the Treatment of Hepatitis C

Effect and Safety of Adding Metformin to the Standard Treatment of Hepatitis C on Sustained Viral Response

Insulin resistance is known to adversely effect viral response to treatment in hepatitis C patients

We are aiming to study the effect of an insulin sensitizer, metformin, in viral response of hepatitis C to treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in a double blind randomized controlled trial

Subjects with hepatitis C will be randomized to receive standard treatment with or without metformin. The results will be compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic hepatitis C
• Iranian nationality
• Treatment naive

Exclusion Criteria:

• cirrhosis
• diabetes mellitus
• HBV/HIV coinfection
• contraindications of metformin, interferon, ribavirin
• severe medical conditions (e.g. CHF, CRF, psychosis, ...)
• not consenting