All-trans-Retinoic Acid for Treatment of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Non-Response to Interferon-alfa/Ribavirin

Introduction: In vitro studies, submitted in parallel by Herget et al, have shown that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces upregulation of selenium dependent gastrointestinal-glutathione peroxidase in HCV-subgenomic RNA replicon cells leading to drastic downregulation of the replicon, that was further enhanced by interferon alfa. Based on these findings, a clinical pilot trial was performed in HCV non-responder patients. Methods: 20 patients with chronic HCV infection were randomly assigned to treatment with daily 45mg/m2 ATRA p.o. and 30 mcg/d selenite (arm A) or 45mg/m2 ATRA and selenite combined with 180 m…