Pegylated Interferon Alone or in Combination With Ezetimibe for Patients With Chronic Hepatitis D

Pegylated Interferon Alone or in Combination With Ezetimibe for Patients With Chronic Hepatitis D

Ezetimibe possesses pharmacophore features to inhibit NTCP, the receptor required for HBV and HDV hepatocyte entry, that include two hydrophobes and one hydrogen bond acceptor.

The aim of the study io evaluate the utility of Ezetimibe in combination with pegylated interferon in patients with chronic HDV infection.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Presence of anti-HDV in serum
• Presence of quantifiable HDV RNA in serum
• Elevated ALT > ULN

Exclusion Criteria:

• Decompensated liver disease
• Patients with ALT levels greater than 10 times ULN (400 U/L)
• Pregnancy or inability to practice adequate contraception.
• Significant systemic or major illnesses other than liver disease, including, but not limited to, congestive heart failure, renal failure (eGFR <50 ml/min), organ transplantation, serious psychiatric disease or depression and active coronary artery disease.
• Systemic immunosuppressive therapy
• Evidence of another form of liver disease in addition to viral hepatitis
• Active substance abuse, such as alcohol or injection drugs
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Concurrent hepatitis C infection or HIV coinfection
• Diagnosis of malignancy in the five years
• Concurrent usage of statins
• Concurrent use of any other drug known to inhibit NTCP
• Inability to understand or sign informed consent