Histologic Improvement of Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C and Sustained Response to Interferon Therapy
Authors: Javier Bolaños-Meade
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2000)

Letters15 August 2000Histologic Improvement of Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C and Sustained Response to Interferon TherapyJavier Bolaños-Meade, MD and Carmen López-Arvizu, MDJavier Bolaños-Meade, MDUniversity of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center; Baltimore, MD 21201 (Bolaños-Meade)Columbia, MD 21044 (López-Arvizu)Search for more papers by this author and Carmen López-Arvizu, MDUniversity of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center; Baltimore, MD 21201 (Bolaños-Meade)Columbia, MD 21044 (López-Arvizu)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-133-4-200008150-00027 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The paper by Shiratori and colleagues (1) proves the histologic improvement of cirrhotic livers in patients with hepatitis C who receive interferon, a point that has largely been anticipated.In their discussion, however, the authors underscore two important facts about interferon: its inherent antifibrogenic effect, which is not related to its antiviral action, and its hepatoprotective properties. Different experimental models have shown that interferon-α2b increases fibrinolysis (2), improves survival and hepatocyte membrane composition (3), and decreases collagen deposition (3, 4) in cirrhotic animals. These properties, which are independent of any antiviral effects (3), may explain why in ...References1. Shiratori Y, Imazeki F, Moriyama M, Yano M, Arakawa Y, Yokosuka O, et al . Histologic improvement of fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C who have sustained response to interferon therapy. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132:517-24. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Rodriguez-Fragoso L, Gonzalez MP, Muriel P. Interferon-α 2b increases fibriolysis in fibrotic livers from bile duct ligated rats: possible participation of the plasminogen activator. Pharmacology. 1995;51:341-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Muriel P, Bolaños J, Barral JM, Torres G. Effect of α-interferon on erythrocyte and hepatocyte plasma membranes derived from cirrhotic rats. Pharmacology. 1994;48:63-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Moreno MG, Muriel P. Remission of liver fibrosis by interferon-α 2b. Biochem Pharmacol. 1995;50:515-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center; Baltimore, MD 21201 (Bolaños-Meade)Columbia, MD 21044 (López-Arvizu) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHistologic Improvement of Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C Who Have Sustained Response to Interferon Therapy Yasushi Shiratori , Fumio Imazeki , Mitsuhiko Moriyama , Michitami Yano , Yasuyuki Arakawa , Osamu Yokosuka , Tetsuo Kuroki , Shuhei Nishiguchi , Michio Sata , Gotarou Yamada , Shigetoshi Fujiyama , Haruhiko Yoshida , and Masao Omata Metrics Cited ByProceeding of the Ronald G. Thurman Memorial Symposium 2020Biomarkers of Liver FibrosisMR relaxometry of the liver: significant elevation of T1 relaxation time in patients with liver cirrhosisRandomized clinical trial 15 August 2000Volume 133, Issue 4Page: 312KeywordsCirrhosisFibrinolysisFibrosisHepatitis CHepatocytesInterferonsLiverLiver fibrosisViral replication ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 August 2000 CopyrightCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...