In:
Hepatology Research, Wiley, Vol. 43, No. 9 ( 2013-09), p. 925-932
Abstract:
In this multicenter, randomized trial, we evaluated the effectiveness of meloxicam – a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug – as an adjuvant for enhancing antiviral efficacy and preventing neutropenia during the treatment of patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C using peginterferon and ribavirin. Methods A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to either the meloxicam or the control group after stratification by neutrophil count. Both groups received weekly peginterferon‐α‐2a (180 μg) and a weight‐based dose of ribavirin for 48 weeks. The meloxicam group received meloxicam (10 mg/day) for the first 8 weeks after initiation of treatment. Results Through intent‐to‐treat analysis, we found that the sustained virological response rate in the meloxicam group (19/30, 63.3%) was significantly higher than in the control group (11/30, 36.7%, P 〈 0.05). The relapse rate was more than twice as high (45%) in the control group than in the meloxicam group (19.0%); however, this difference was not statistically significant. The rate of neutrophil decrease, calculated by dividing the lowest value observed during the first 8 weeks by pretreatment count, was significantly smaller in the meloxicam group (55.1 ± 14.3%) than in the control group (62.3 ± 9.6%, P 〈 0.05). Conclusion Meloxicam enhanced antiviral efficacy and reduced the decline in neutrophil counts for the peginterferon and ribavirin treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C . This drug could be a reasonable adjuvant for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C . The present study including a small number of patients warrants larger clinical trials.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1386-6346
,
1872-034X
DOI:
10.1111/hepr.2013.43.issue-9
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2006439-1
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