Effects of interferon-beta on plasma lipid and lipoprotein composition and post-heparin lipase activities in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND Interferon therapy has been shown to induce lipid abnormalities. AIM We assessed the effects of interferon-beta on the lipoprotein profile and post-heparin lipase activities in 26 normolipaemic patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS Interferon-beta was administered subcutaneously at doses of 6 x 106 U (units) three times a week, over 6 months, and lipoproteins and post-heparin lipases were measured at baseline and at the end of therapy. RESULTS Plasma triglycerides increased by 21% due to preferential enrichment in those contained in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions. The concentration of cholesterol decreased slightly in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions. Lipoprotein lipase, but not hepatic lipase activity decreased by a 36%, and this change showed a significant negative correlation with changes in plasma triglycerides. Five patients (19.5%) responded to interferon-beta therapy. The lipoprotein profile was no different between responders and non-responders to therapy. CONCLUSIONS Interferon-beta treatment in normolipaemic patients with chronic hepatitis C induced moderate disturbances in plasma lipoproteins, associated with inhibition of lipoprotein lipase activity.