Follow-Up of Combination of Chloroquine with Anti-Viral Drugs Treated Chronic Hepatitis ‘B’ Patients for Their Carrier State Jothivel Nandhakumar1,*, Singaravel Sengottuvelu1, Deivasigamani Karthikeyan1, Vasudevan Mani1, Sundaram Sureshkumar2, Sambasivam Narmadha2, Thangavel Sivakumar1 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, Nandha College of Pharmacy, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India-638052 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, KM College of Pharmacy, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India-625107 *Corresponding Author E-mail: satheeshnandhu78@rediffmail.com
Abstract Anti-viral agents like interferon-alpha, lamivudine, ribavirin have a uncertain effect on chronic hepatitis B (CHB), when they were used alone. Chloroquine is a well known anti-malarial agent, apart from which is a lysosomotropic agent, was used along with intercalating agent like methylene blue and anti-viral agents to treat clinically confirmed CHB patients. The present study is aimed to check the efficacy of earlier treated CHB patients to know their different infection status i.e. whether they completely recovered or chronic carrier. A retrospective study was carried on Jun 1st 2001 to Feb 28th 2002 at a tertiary care liver speciality hospital located in south India. The previously enrolled viral hepatitis patient medication records (PMRs) had been perused, out of which 830 patients had taken the combinational drug (chloroquine, intercalating and anti-viral agents) treatment for CHB. These 830 patients were included for our study and called for clinical, biochemical investigations and follow-up. The responder's blood samples were collected to carryout virological profiles like HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBV DNA by PCR and anti-HCV, liver enzymes like SGPT and SGOT levels and lipid profiles like total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL. The follow-up report was compared with base line and end of trial (EOT). Out of 830 patients 122 (14.69%) responders were reported to hospital. Only 4 (3.3%) patients were showed HBsAg +ve in their serum and found to be –ve in HBV DNA by PCR. Both SGOT and SGPT levels significantly (P<0.001) increased at EOT and 87% of patients were got the anti-HBs level above 26 IU/L. So, this study reflects the given combination therapy was found to be effective to the extent of 100% cure of CHB. Top Keywords Chloroquine, chronic hepatitis B, false carriers, HBV DNA. Top |