Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to elucidate the impactof combined pentoxifylline and high-dose vitamin Esupplementation on Ribavirin (RBV)-induced hemolytic anemiain patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).Patients and methods: A total of 200 treatment-na�ve chronicCHC patients were randomized into two groups to receive eitherthe standard antiviral therapy and pentoxifylline (800 mg) andhigh-dose vitamin E (1000 IU) daily (combined group) orstandard antiviral therapy and placebo (control group). Theywere followed-up to assess occurrence of anemia and virologicalresponses respectively.Results: Dose modification of RBV due to anemia wassignificantly lower in combined group (8.5%) compared to controlgroup (21.5%) (p < 0.05). Withdrawal from therapy due to severeanemia (Hb < 8.5 gm/dl) was recorded only in six (28.6%)patients of the control group. Both end of treatment response(ETR) and sustained virological response (SVR) were significantlyhigher in combined group compared to control (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Pentoxifylline and vitamin E can ameliorate RBVassociatedhemolysis; improve compliance and virologicclearance, when combined with the standard antiviral therapyin patients with CHC.Abbreviations: RBV: Ribavirin; ETR: End of treatmentresponse; SVR: Sustained virological response.
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