Effect of Spirulina on Liver Iron Concentration in Beta Thalassemic Children With Hepatitis C

Tanta University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Beta Thalassemia Major

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: spirulina

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02744560

3026/01/15

Details and patient eligibility

About

Thalassemics can develop liver fibrosis because of iron overload and hepatitis C infection. The latter is the main risk factor for liver fibrosis in transfusion dependent thalassemics. Excess liver iron is clearly recognized as a co factor for the development of advanced fibrosis in patients with hepatitis virus C infection. Magnetic resonance imaging represents the most available noninvasive technique to assess the level of iron in the liver.there is evidence that suggests Spirulina may help to protect against liver damage, cirrhosis and liver failure in those with chronic liver disease.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• multitransfused beta thalassemic children with super added hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection diagnosed by serological detection of HCV antibodies and HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction.

Exclusion criteria

• liver decompensation child younger than 3 years patients with hepatitis B infection contraindications to perform MRI (intraocular metallic foreign body, cardiac pacemaker, intracranial clips of arterial brain aneurysms) refusal to participate in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

patients

Experimental group

Description:

30 multitransfused beta thalassemic children infected with hepatitis C virus diagnosed by serological detection of HCV-antibodies and HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction will be given Spirulina in a dose of 250 mg/kg/day orally for 3 months.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: spirulina