Abstract |
Twenty-one patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with a mistletoe preparation as monotherapy (either Iscador or Abnoba viscum) during one year. The treatment was well tolerated. Patients entering the study with elevated transaminases had a significant improvement, both for AST ( aspartate aminotransferase) (p = 0.01) and for ALT ( alanine aminotransferase) (p = 0.04). Quality of life significantly improved (p = 0.006) in patients with a low initial quality of life. Although one patient obtained a complete virological response, few effects on viral load were seen in the whole group. These results suggest an effect comparable to glycyrrhicin treatment: improvement of liver inflammation and thus possibly reduction of the long term complications, viz cirrhosis and liver cancer. Mistletoe preparations have the advantage of easy administration and low cost.
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Authors | Karel Jan Tusenius, Anne Marie Spoek, Jan van Hattum |
Journal | Arzneimittel-Forschung
(Arzneimittelforschung)
Vol. 55
Issue 12
Pg. 749-53
( 2005)
ISSN: 0004-4172 [Print] Germany |
PMID | 16430029
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antiviral Agents
- Plant Extracts
- Plant Proteins
- RNA, Viral
- abnoba viscum
- viscum album peptide
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Antiviral Agents
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Area Under Curve
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
(metabolism)
- Female
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
- Humans
- Liver Cirrhosis
(complications, pathology)
- Liver Function Tests
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mistletoe
(chemistry)
- Plant Extracts
(therapeutic use)
- Plant Proteins
(therapeutic use)
- Quality of Life
- RNA, Viral
(blood)
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