Ueki M, Koda M, Shimizu T, Mitsuta A, Yamamoto T, Murawaki Y
Effect of an angiotensin-II type-1 receptor blocker, candesartan on hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C: a prospective study. [Journal Article]
Hepatogastroenterology 2009 Jul-Aug; 56(93):1100-4.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have shown that blocking of angiotensin-II signaling can attenuate liver fibrosis in various experimental models. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical effect of an angiotensin-II type-1 receptor blocker, candesartan, on the progression of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients.
METHODOLOGY: Twelve chronic hepatitis C patients with hypertension enrolled as candesartan-treated patients and followed up prospectively, were compared with age- and sex-matched 20 chronic hepatitis C patients with no candesartan treatment. We evaluated alterations in hepatic fibrosis grades with these noninvasive fibrotic indexes: Forns index, the AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) and FibroIndex, every 3 months.
RESULTS: There were initially no significant differences between the candesartan-treated and control groups in clinical characteristics. Candesartan treatment induced a significant improvement in Forns Index, APRI and FibroIndex during treatment in comparison with the control group. There were no severe side effects in the candesartan group.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that candesartan in regular doses has an anti-fibrotic effect on patients with chronic hepatitis C.
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