Pegylated-Interferon and Ribavirin in Hepatitis C Patients With Persistently Normal Alanine Aminotransferase Levels

University of Turin

Status and phase

Unknown

Phase 4

Conditions

Chronic Hepatitis C

Treatments

Drug: Peg-Interferon alpha2a plus Ribavirin

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00575627

pNNALTHCV

NNALT

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients with chronic hepatitis C with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels have been generally excluded from treatment, because the strong conviction that normal ALT would be synonymous of absence of liver damage. However, recent studies have demonstrated marked liver fibrosis, including cirrhosis, in patients with HCV and persistently normal ALT levels. Up to now, just a sigle randomized, controlled, multicenter study was lead to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and persistently normal serum ALT levels. Aim of our study is evaluate the efficacy of treatment and the outcome of treated patients compared with a control group of untreated patients.

Enrollment

150 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Serologic evidence of chronic hepatitis C infection (repeatedly HCV-RNA positive) with persistent normal ALT levels documented on at least 3 occasions, in the last 18 months before screening.
Fibroscan performed in the last 3 months
Compensated liver disease, Child Pugh score <7
Serum HCV-RNA >615 IU/mL
Patients who are naïve to any hepatitis C therapy (i.e. have not been previously treated with an interferon or with IFN plus ribavirin)
No clinical or radiological evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and a serum AFP <100 ng/mL within 2 months of randomisation
Negative urine or blood pregnancy test (for women of childbearing potential) documented within the 24-hour period prior to the first dose of study drug
All fertile males and females receiving ribavirin must be using two forms of effective contraception during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment end

Exclusion criteria

Women with ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding
History or other evidence of bleeding from oesophageal varices or other conditions consistent with decompensated liver disease (Child Pugh B or C)
Therapy with any systemic anti-viral, anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatory treatment (including supraphysiologic doses of steroids and radiation) £6 months prior to the first dose of study drug
History or other evidence of a medical condition associated with chronic liver disease other than HCV (e.g., hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, toxin exposures)
Neutrophil count <1500 cells/mm3 or platelet count <90,000 cells/mm3 at screening
Serum creatinine level >1.5 times the upper limit of normal at screening
Evidence of current severe psychiatric disease, especially depression within one year of study entry. Severe psychiatric disease is defined as treatment with an antidepressant medication or a major tranquilizer at therapeutic doses for major depression or psychosis, respectively, within 12 months prior to study entry. Patients with a previous history of the following: a suicidal attempt, hospitalization for psychiatric disease, or a period of disability due to a psychiatric disease should be evaluated by a qualified Psychiatrist for study suitability prior to enrolment.
History of a severe seizure disorder or current anticonvulsant use History of immunologically mediated disease, chronic pulmonary disease associated with functional limitation, severe cardiac disease, major organ transplantation or other evidence of severe illness, malignancy, or any other conditions which would make the patient, in the opinion of the investigator, unsuitable for the study
History of thyroid disease poorly controlled on prescribed medications, elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations with elevation of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and any clinical manifestations of thyroid disease
Evidence of severe retinopathy (e.g. CMV retinitis, macula degeneration)
Evidence of drug abuse (including excessive alcohol consumption) within 6 months of study entry
Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent or abide by the requirements of the study
Male partners of women who are pregnant
Hgb <12 g/dL in women or <13 g/dL in men at screening
Any patient with an increased baseline risk for anemia (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, history of GI bleeding, etc) or for whom anemia would be medically problematic
Patients with documented or presumed coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease should not be enrolled if, in the judgment of the investigator, an acute decrease in hemoglobin by up to 4 g/dL (as may be seen with ribavirin therapy) would not be well-tolerated