Pegylated-Interferon and Ribavirin Plus Metformin in the Treatment of Chronic HCV Infection and Insulin Resistance

Phase 4

• Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C; Insulin Resistance

• Registration Number: NCT00370617
• Lead Sponsor: University of Turin, Italy

Brief Summary

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and HCV infection itself may promote insulin resistance, irrespective of the severity of liver disease.

Insulin resistance seems to be genotype specific and may play a role in fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C.

In an "in vitro" model, increased levels of insulin may promote increased HCV replication.

RATIONALE Decreased insulin resistance and reduced hyperinsulinemia may facilitate the efficacy of anti-viral drugs on HCV replication.

Detailed Description

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and HCV infection itself may promote insulin resistance, irrespective of the severity of liver disease.

* In patients with HCV infection, an increase in fasting insulin levels is associated with the presence of serum HCV core, the severity of hepatic fibrosis and a decrease in expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 and IRS2, central molecules of the insulin-signaling cascade. Down-regulation of IRS1 and IRS2 has also been observed in HCV core-transgenic mice livers and HCV core-transfected human hepatoma cells.

* High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which acts by disturbing tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, may be associated with insulin resistance both in animal models and in HCV patients.

Insulin resistance seems to be genotype specific and may play a role in fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C.

* In patients infected with genotype non-3, insulin resistance is associated with the degree of fibrosis, the rate of fibrosis progression and previous failed antiviral treatment.

* Insulin resistance, fibrosis, and genotype are independent predictors of the response to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin. A sustained virological response is achieved in 33% of patients with genotype 1 and insulin resistance compared with 60% of genotype 1 patients without insulin resistance.

* Insulin resistance is associated with a 3-fold risk of failure to antiviral treatment in patients with genotype 1 In an "in vitro" model, increased levels of insulin may promote increased HCV replication.

RATIONALE Decreased insulin resistance and reduced hyperinsulinemia may facilitate the efficacy of anti-viral drugs on HCV replication.

INDICATION Genotype 1 Chronic HCV hepatitis (CHC) associated with insulin resistance (IR).

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of Pegylated-Interferon and Ribavirin plus metformin to Pegylated-Interferon and Ribavirin for treatment of naïve patients with Genotype 1 Chronic HCV infection and insulin resistance.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2006-08-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-08-30
• Study First Posted: 2006-08-31
• Study Start: 2006-09
• Status Verified: 2006-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2006-11-13
• Last Update Posted: 2006-11-14
• Study Completion: 2009-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

1. No previous antiviral treatment
2. Persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and quantifiable HCV-RNA (>2000 copies/ml)
3. Liver biopsy (within 12 months) consistent with CHC with or without cirrhosis
4. Compensated liver disease (Child-Pugh grade A)
5. Insulin resistance (evaluated by HOMA-R and OGTT)
6. Negative pregnancy test

Exclusion Criteria

1. Type 2 Diabetes (according to ADA criteria)
2. BMI > 30
3. Alcohol consumption > 30 g/day
4. Other forms of liver disease (HBV, autoimmune, genetic), HIV infection.
5. Anemia
6. Psychiatric disease
7. Thyroid disease poorly controlled
8. Overt cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma
9. Significant cardiac, renal, pulmonary disease, seizures.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Combined end-point of non-detectable serum HCV-RNA (<100 copies/mL) and
normal serum ALT activity at the end of the 24 week treatment-free follow up period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
End-of-treatment virological and biochemical response
Sustained virological and biochemical response
End-of-treatment improvement of insulin resistance
End-of-treatment improvement of liver histology

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Division of Gastroenterology, University of Torino, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista; 🇮🇹 Torino, Italy