This is an MRC (medical research council) sponsored study. It's for HCV patients of any genotype who have failed previous therapy (non-responders or relapsers). Open to cirrhotic patients if well compensated, without moderate varices, with a platelet count over 60 and an AFP under 100. Patients must have abnormal ALT levels, have a BMI under 30 and not already be taking statins or be on any anti-coagulants like warfarin and negative for HIV and HBV.
The rationale behind the study is that recent research suggests that HCV hijacks the liver's role in cholesterol and lipid metabolism and uses it in replication, secretion from liver cells and to gain entry into other cells. In lab studies, fish oils and statins both inhibit HCV replication. This is a pilot study to see if fish oils and statins, given alone or in combination for a short period of 12 weeks, have any beneficial effects, either in lowering the amount of HCV in the blood or improving the liver function. There are 6 randomised arms in the study, (1 control arm and 5 arms which allocate varying doses of fish oils and statins, either separately or together.) The study centres are located in London and Newcastle.
Patients who are interested in the study need to be referred in the first instance by their GP to the Hepatology Dept in St Mary's,London - contact Mary Crossey at m.crossey@imperial.ac.uk or, if living in the North, to Professor M Bassendine, or David Sheridan at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle- Upon- Tyne, tel 0191 137208, david.sheridan@newcastle.ac.uk
