In Hepatitis C Patients Treated With Interferon and Ribavirin, Does Hepcidin Contribute to Treatment Induced Anaemia

Fremantle Hospital and Health Service

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hepatitis C

Treatments: Drug: Ribavirin; Drug: Pegylated interferon alpha

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01726400

HEPCIDIN-11/225

Details and patient eligibility

About

The standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection is pegylated interferon alpha combined with ribavirin. Anaemia is a common complication occurring in up to 30% of subjects. Unfortunately, side effects of interferon and ribavirin therapy can require dose reductions, reducing the likelihood of sustained viral response. Recent data shows that interferon alpha may increase hepcidin (a key iron regulator) production, resulting in impaired iron availability for production of red blood cells. In this study, we will evaluate hepcidin levels in 30 patients with Hepatitis C who are treated with interferon containing regimes. If hepcidin plays a role in interferon-induced anaemia, cheap and readily available oral hepcidin inhibitors could be trialled to potentially reduce the impact of interferon alpha induced anaemia.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Any patient with hepatitis C eligible for treatment with pegylated interferon alpha containing regimes.

Exclusion criteria

• less than 18 years of age

Trial design

15 participants in 1 patient group

Interferon and ribavirin

Description:

Treatment with standard of care pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin.

Treatment:

Drug: Pegylated interferon alpha

Drug: Ribavirin