S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe) to Treat Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

NCT00475176 | Completed Phase 2 Results

• 2 other identifiers: 07014307-DK-0143
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effectiveness of S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin for treating hepatitis C virus. One out of three patients with hepatitis C develops cirrhosis of the liver, which can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. SAMe is a nutritional supplement that is made naturally in all cells of the body and acts to improve how the body handles stress. In laboratory experiments with liver cells, SAMe decreases the injury caused by liver toxins and improves the ability of interferon to block hepatitis C virus. Patients 18 years of age and older with hepatitis C infection who did not respond successfully to prior treatment with interferon and ribavirin or peginterferon and ribavirin may be eligible for this study. Participants receive the following treatment:

• Peginterferon (given by injection) and ribavirin (taken by mouth) for 2 weeks
• Washout period (no medications) for 4 weeks
• SAMe (taken by mouth) for 2 weeks
• Peginterferon, ribavirin and SAMe for 12-48 weeks, depending on patient response to treatment. Participants have a thorough physical evaluation before beginning treatment and again at the study's end. After starting treatment, patients return for clinic visits and blood tests weekly for the first several weeks, then less frequently (at 2-week, then 4-week and 8-week intervals until up to 72 weeks) to monitor symptoms, drug side effects, hepatitis C virus levels, liver enzyme levels and immune responses to hepatitis C. ...

Conditions

Chronic Hepatitis C

Keywords

Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1; Non-Responders; SAMe; Natural Killer Cells; Interferon Signaling; Ribavirin; Peginterferon; Hemolysis; STAT; Hepatitis C

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Improvement in Viral Kinetics During the First 2 Weeks of Therapy

  Improvement of slopes of decline in hepatitis C virus Ribonucleic acid in second course compared with first course in days 7 to 14 of therapy

  Days 7 to 14 of therapy

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 2-log Decline in HCV RNA by Week 12 (Early Virological Response) and Sustained Eradication of HCV RNA (Sustained Virological Response).

  12 weeks from start of therapy

Study Arms (1)

S-Adenosyl Methionine

EXPERIMENTAL

Drug: Peginterferon alfa-2a; Drug: Ribavirin; Drug: S-adenosyl methionine for Chronic Liver Disease

Interventions

Peginterferon alfa-2a DRUG

S-Adenosyl Methionine

Ribavirin DRUG

S-Adenosyl Methionine

S-adenosyl methionine for Chronic Liver Disease DRUG

S-Adenosyl Methionine

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or above, male or female
• Serum alanine or aspartate aminotransferase (ALT \& AST) activities that are above the upper limit of normal (ALT greater than 41 or AST greater than 31 IU/L).
• Presence of anti-HCV in serum.
• Presence of HCV RNA genotype 1 in serum at levels above 10,000 copies/ml.
• Previous adequate therapy with interferon and ribavirin or peginterferon and ribavirin without a sustained virological response. An adequate course of therapy is defined as at least 12 weeks of interferon in doses of 3 million units three times weekly or peginterferon in doses of 180 micrograms for peginterferon alfa-2a or 1.5 micrograms/kg for peginterferon alfa 2b once weekly and ribavirin in starting doses of at least 1000 mg daily. Patients who initiated therapy at these doses, but required dose modification due to side effects will also be eligible.
• Written informed consent: Patients will be informed of the risk/benefits and side-effects of the medications used in this protocol and will be advised of the research blood drawn at each clinic visit. They will be given ample time to read the consent form and to ask any protocol related questions. Once this is done, the patient's signature will be obtained on the consent form to enroll them into the protocol.

You may not qualify if:

• Evidence of other forms of liver disease.
• Hepatitis B as defined as presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis as defined by liver histology.
• Wilson disease as defined by ceruloplasmin below the limits of normal and liver histology consistent with Wilson disease.
• Autoimmune hepatitis as defined by antinuclear antibody (ANA) of 3 EU or greater (ELISA) and liver histology consistent with autoimmune hepatitis or previous response to immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune hepatitis.
• Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency as defined by alpha-1-antitrypsin level less than normal and liver histology consistent with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
• Hemochromatosis as defined by presence of 3+ or 4+ stainable iron on liver biopsy and homozygosity for C282Y or compound heterozygosity for C282Y/H63D. Patients with iron saturation indices of greater than 45% and serum ferritin levels of greater than 300 ng/ml for men and greater than 250 ng/ml for women will undergo genetic testing for C282Y and H63D.
• Drug induced liver disease as defined on the basis of typical exposure and history.
• Bile duct obstruction as suggested by imaging studies done within the previous six months.
• Decompensated liver disease, as marked by bilirubin greater than 4 mg/dl, albumin less than 3.0 gm/l, prothrombin time greater than 2 sec prolonged, Child-Pugh score of 7 or greater or history of bleeding esophageal varices, ascites or hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with ALT levels greater than 1000 U/L (greater than 25 times the upper limit of the normal range) will not be enrolled but may be followed until three determinations are below this level.
• Significant systemic or major illnesses other than liver disease, including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, pulmonary disease with hypoxia, renal failure, organ transplantation, serious psychiatric disease including depression, malignancy and any other conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude treatment.
• Pre existing, severe bone marrow compromise; anemia (hematocrit less than 34%), neutropenia (less than 1000 polymorphonuclear cells/mm(3)) or thrombocytopenia (less than 70,000 cells/mm(3)).
• Serious autoimmune disease that, in the opinion of the investigators, might be worsened by interferon therapy, such as lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease
• Known HIV infection.
• Active substance abuse, such as alcohol, inhaled or injection drugs within the previous one year.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Lauer GM, Walker BD. Hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2001 Jul 5;345(1):41-52. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200107053450107. No abstract available.

  PMID: 11439948 BACKGROUND

• Armstrong GL, Wasley A, Simard EP, McQuillan GM, Kuhnert WL, Alter MJ. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 1999 through 2002. Ann Intern Med. 2006 May 16;144(10):705-14. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-144-10-200605160-00004.

  PMID: 16702586 BACKGROUND

• Thomas DL, Seeff LB. Natural history of hepatitis C. Clin Liver Dis. 2005 Aug;9(3):383-98, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2005.05.003.

  PMID: 16023972 BACKGROUND

• Feld JJ, Modi AA, El-Diwany R, Rotman Y, Thomas E, Ahlenstiel G, Titerence R, Koh C, Cherepanov V, Heller T, Ghany MG, Park Y, Hoofnagle JH, Liang TJ. S-adenosyl methionine improves early viral responses and interferon-stimulated gene induction in hepatitis C nonresponders. Gastroenterology. 2011 Mar;140(3):830-9. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.09.010. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

  PMID: 20854821 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hepatitis C, Chronic; Hemolysis; Hepatitis C

Interventions

peginterferon alfa-2a; Ribavirin; S-Adenosylmethionine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Virus Diseases; Flaviviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Hepatitis, Chronic; Hepatitis; Liver Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Ribonucleosides; Nucleosides; Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides; Methionine; Amino Acids, Sulfur; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Adenosine; Purine Nucleosides; Purines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Jay H. Hoofnagle, M.D.
• Organization: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National In

hoofnaglej@mail.nih.gov

301-496-1333

Study Officials

• Jay Hoofnagle, MD

  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2007
• First Posted: May 21, 2007
• Study Start: May 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2011
• Study Completion: May 1, 2011
• Last Updated: July 5, 2013
• Results First Posted: July 5, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-05

Locations

US (1)