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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Oct 21;17(39):4414-20.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i39.4414.

L-carnitine supplementation improves hematological pattern in patients affected by HCV treated with Peg interferon-α 2b plus ribavirin

Michele Malaguarnera  1 , Marco Vacante, Maria Giordano, Massimo Motta, Gaetano Bertino, Manuela Pennisi, Sergio Neri, Mariano Malaguarnera, Giovanni Li Volti, Fabio Galvano
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

L-carnitine supplementation improves hematological pattern in patients affected by HCV treated with Peg interferon-α 2b plus ribavirin

Michele Malaguarnera et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine on alleviating anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia, and minimizing dose reductions in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in treatment with Interferon α (IFN-α) plus ribavirin.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. group A (n = 35) received Peg-IFN-α 2b plus ribavirin plus L-carnitine, and group B (n = 34) received Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin for 12 mo. All patients underwent laboratory investigations including: red cell count, hemoglobin, white cell count, platelets, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and viremia.

Results: After 12 mo in group A compared to group B we observed significant differences in AST 108.8 vs 76.8 (IU/L; P < 0.001), ALT 137.9 vs 112.3 (IU/L; P < 0.001), viremia 4.04 vs 2.36 (× 10(6) copies/mL; P < 0.001), Hb 1 vs 3.5 (g/dL; P < 0.05), red blood cells 0.3 vs 1.1 (× 10(12)/L; P < 0.001), white blood cells 1.5 vs 3 (× 10(9)/L; P < 0.001) and platelets 86 vs 85 (× 10(9)/L; P < 0.001). The end treatment responders were 18 vs 12 (60% vs 44%) and the non responders were 12 vs 15 (40% vs 50%) [odds ratio (OR) 1.65, 95% CI = 0.65-5.37, P < 0.05]. In group A compared to group B there was a significant improvement of sustained virological response in 15 vs 7 patients (50% vs 25%), while the relapsers were 3 vs 5 (10% vs 18%) (OR 3.57, 95% CI = 0.65-19.3, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: L-carnitine supplementations modulate erythropoiesis, leucopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis, and may be useful in patients treated for HCV. L-carnitine treatment offers the possibility of achieving a sustained virological response while preventing overtreatment.

Keywords: Anemia; Chronic hepatitis C; Interferon; L-carnitine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial profile of L-carnitine treatment. IFN-α: Interferon α; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; RBV: Ribavirin; SVR: Sustained virological responders; ETR: End-of-treatment responders.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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