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Bone mineral density and bone turnover in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C and sustained virological response to antiviral therapy with peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin

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Abstract

Summary

Patients with chronic hepatitis C have low bone mineral density and increased bone resorption related to serum transaminase levels. Elevated serum soluble tumor necrosis factor (sTNFR-55) receptor levels may play a role in the bone mass loss in these patients. Bone mass is improved and bone turnover normalized in patients who respond to antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin.

Introduction

Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been described in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The study objective was to evaluate the effect of antiviral therapy on BMD and bone metabolism in non-cirrhotic HCV patients with sustained virological response.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study in 36 consecutive outpatients from the general community with non-cirrhotic HCV and an early and sustained virological response to peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin therapy. Determinations of BMD (dual X-ray absorptiometry at lumbar spine and femoral neck) and biochemical measurements of bone metabolism and sTNFR-55 were made at baseline, after 24 and 48 weeks of antiviral therapy, and at 48 weeks after the end of treatment.

Results

Patients had a significantly reduced BMD, which significantly increased during the follow-up. Serum levels of sTNFR-55 and bone turnover markers were increased at baseline and significantly reduced at all subsequent time points. We found an inverse correlation between BMD and both serum aminotransferase levels and urine deoxypyridinoline (D-pyr) and a positive correlation between serum aminotransferases and both urine D-Pyr and serum sTNFR-55.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic hepatitis C have low bone mass associated with increased bone resorption, and some relationship can be expected between serum aminotransferase levels and the degree of bone mass loss. Bone mass may be improved and bone turnover normalized in patients who respond to antiviral therapy. Elevated serum sTRFR-55 levels may play a role in the bone mass loss of these patients.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jorge González Cantero, medical student at the University of Granada, for technical assistance. This work was supported by a Grant from Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía (PI-0134/2007) and from the University of Granada (Beca de Iniciación a la Investigación del Plan Propio 2011).

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Correspondence to J. L. Gonzalez-Calvin.

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Redondo-Cerezo, E., Casado-Caballero, F., Martin-Rodriguez, J.L. et al. Bone mineral density and bone turnover in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C and sustained virological response to antiviral therapy with peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin. Osteoporos Int 25, 1709–1715 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-014-2663-z

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