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The Effect of Ribavirin on Bone Density in Children with Chronic
Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon-Ribavirin
The objective of the present study, conducted in Turkey, was
to investigate the effects of ribavirin
on bone mineral metabolism
in patients with chronic hepatitis C
who had been treated with interferon
and ribavirin.
Twenty
patients (3 female, 17 male) with chronic hepatitis C were
enrolled. Age range was 6 to 15 years.
Thirteen
patients received combined interferon
alfa-2b and ribavirin therapy (Group 1), and
7 patients received only interferon alpha-2b (Group 2). Both
groups were treated for 12 months.
Bone
mineral density, z-scores and biochemical bone markers were
evaluated in both groups before and after treatment.
Results
There were no significant differences
between the groups in age or gender.
Mean
lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and mean z-scores in
groups 1 and 2 before and after treatment were not significantly
different.
In
both groups, serum and urinary biochemical values and bone
markers were all normal and there were no differences between
the pre-treatment and post-treatment values.
The
authors conclude, “Contrary to studies in adults, we did not
find any ribavirin-dependent changes related to bone mineral
metabolism in our pediatric study groups.”
“Further
studies are needed to obtain more detailed information about
the effects of ribavirin on bone mineral density.”
11/07/05
Reference
N
Urganci
and others. The Effect of Ribavirin on Bone Density in Children
with Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon-Ribavirin
Therapy. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and
Nutrition 41(5): 650-652. November 2005.
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