C型肝炎患者におけるリバビリン誘導性貧血及び酸化ストレスに対するエイコサペンタエン酸の効果

抄録

A major side effect of ribavirin (RBV) is a hemolytic anemia. One of the causes of hemolytic anemia is considered to be oxidative stress to erythrocytes. Recently, a beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) for ribavirin-induced anemia has been reported. This study evaluated effects of EPA for ribavirin-induced anemia and thioredoxin (TRX) as an indicator of oxidative stress in chronic hepatitis C patients within 8 weeks. Nighteen of 41 patients who had received interferon/ribavirin therapy were treated with EPA (1800 mg/day) (EPA group). EPA therapy significantly prevented progression of anemia (P<0.01). Moreover, serum TRX levels were significantly decreased in EPA group at 4 weeks (P<0.01). Reduction of oxidative stress by EPA might play an important role for preventing ribavirin-induced anemia.