Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2003 , Vol 49 , Num 2

The Effect of Combination Therapy on Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Preliminary Report

Günşah Şahin 1 ,Özlem Kandemir 2 ,Selda Bağış 3 ,Ali Kaya 2 ,Canan Erdoğan 4
1 Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Mersin, Türkiye
2 Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Mersi
3 Acıbadem Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Bölümü, Istanbul, Türkiye
4 Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Mersi

Most patients with chronic hepatitis C have been treated with interferon plus ribavirin. In a  few studies, bone loss during this treatment was reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of the   combination therapy (interferon plus ribavirin) on bone mineral density (BMD) in 30 male  patients with hepatitis C treated for 12 months duration. Twenty-five healthy age, body mass index matched male subjects served as control. There was statistically significant difference between groups regarding  BMD of the lumbar region which is lower in patients with hepatitis C  treated for 12 months  with combination therapy. Serum biochemical bone markers and urinary calcium (24 hours) were normal in both groups and there was no statistically significant difference between groups. In conclusion, this study may support  that combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin may be  the cause of  reduced bone mineral density but further studies are needed to clarify its etiology

Keywords : Bone mineral density; ribavirin, interferon