Long Term Vitamin D Therapy in HCV Treated Patients

Effect of Long-term Vitamin D Therapy on IL-6, Visfatin and Hyaluronic Acid in Hepatitis C Virus Patients' Assessment

Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was carried out using pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN), ribavirin (RBV) and vitamin D (vit D) for 48 weeks in HCV genotypes 4a subjects. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of vitamin D on liver affection in such patients.

Fifty patients study group administered vit D were compared with 50 patients control group without vit D. The results showed a significant elevation in vit D levels during the time period, and significant reduction on HCV RNA from the 12th wk to reach zero level in 24th wk. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), visfatin and hyaluronic acid levels were reduced significantly to reach normal values. These concentrations reduction by the effect of vit D on HCV indicated the reduction in inflammation, infection and liver cirrhosis and nearly amelioration HCV.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic HCV infection (positive HCV Ab more than 6 months)
• Treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin

Exclusion Criteria:

• Coinfection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis D or Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Previous non response to antiviral therapy.
• Other causes of chronic liver diseases as schistosomiasis, Wilson disease and alcoholic liver disease.