DDW 2007 ABSTRACTS -- Statins, Metabolic Predictors, Diabetes, , Predictive Values, and a new rectal treatment...

[jmjm530]

that I'm sure "GoofyDad" will comment on. It's Digestive Disease Week 2007 (DDW) is upon us with lots of interesting studies to examine. Wish there was an easier way to link to the studies, but for those interested, this will have to do.

1. First go here:http://www.ddw.org/

2. Then click on the word "here" in the second paragraph which reads in full" Plan or modify your DDW itinerary in advance and view accepted abstracts *here*."

3. Now click on "search" in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Click on the second heading "category" and select "viral hepatitis" near the bottom.

5. Now click on "Search" at the bottom and you will be directed to a list of the abstracts.

(For those with more time and who are more computer savvy, you can register, save a custom list of abstracts, and possibly post that list here as a single link for others.)

[jmjm530]

Some discussion already here: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/46494.html

Increased SVR Rate with 48 Wks

[jmjm530]

via the links in the first post for those interested.

[jmjm530]

Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Taking a Statin Along with Peginterferon and Ribavirin (PI+R) on SVR.
T. Bader1; M. Madhoun1; S. Rizvi1
1. VA Medical Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.


Methods: 104 patients taking PI+R were compared to 30 patients who by chance took triple therapy [(PI+R) plus a statin]. A modified intent to treat approach was taken whereby if any patient had a least one data point after starting therapy, he or she was included in the denominator.
Virtually all patients taking a statin were on simvastatin (n=25); 2 were on lovastatin, 2 on atorvastatin and 1 on fluvastatin.
The pooled SVR rate* for the 104 patients on standard treatment was 37%. This is the highest SVR ever reported in the medical literature for a VA based population.
The pooled SVR rate for the triple therapy group was 63%. In terms of HCV subgroups, the effect was statistically strongest for genotype one, the most difficult subgroup to treat.
Conclusion: Statins appear to be associated with a higher SVR rate of standard PI+R therapy. This observation principally occurs on the basis of a medium powered statin (simvastatin) in terms of the Ikeda experiment (Hepatology 2006;44:117-125). The only patient to take fluvastatin during the study was cured. Statins need to be studied prospectively for their effect on hepatitis C and the outcome of treatment.

SVR Rate
No Statin
(%) p value
(chi-square) Statin
(%)
Genotype 1 16/65 (25) .014 11/20
(55)
Genotype
2 20/26
(77) .43 3/5
(60)
Genotype
3 7/15
(47) .035 5/5
(100)
Pooled
Analysis* 37% .009 63%
*Pooled analysis makes the population proportion 70% genotype 1 and 30% non-genotype 1 in order to mimic the proportion of genotypes in the USA. This is the standard method of reporting SVRs.

[jmjm530]

Copy (Highlight and Ctrl "C") and Paste (Ctrl "V") only take a couple of seconds. Now if it were just that easy to copy and paste myself to Ohau this evening :)
Be well.

-- Jim

[willows]

How to make treatment worse?  Give it rectally, I mean, come on, who thought of that?  I always found a bit of pride in being able to say "I give myself my shots weekly", where is the pride in a suppository?  

Good info, jmjm, the insulin resistance is of particular importance to me, my blood sugar has been a bit high and I can't seem to lose any weight.  And I get tired, I mean, tired.  so I have cut out a lot of sugar and am still working in the garden, mowing or walking, but doesn't seem to help much.  I'm having a biopsy next week, then I'll move on to the insulin resistance.  For me, I don't think it  will be a problem, I need to lose 30 pounds and then all will work better, I'm sure.

Fine post, sir, and very funny too, in a twisted, Tuesday nite way.

Willow doesn't want a suppository

[GrandOak]

Interestingly, my Gluscose was 60 during the initial stages of treatment and had been normal prior to treatment.  Despite requests for additional Blood/Sugar monitoring during tx because of family history risk factor, nothing was done, and then a few months post tx, diagnosis of earl diabetes is made.

Also, sx of tx is noted to be an increase risk for developing diabetes, which is why I was asking for increased level of testing.

Now it may simply be coincidental, but I am wondering if tx not only failed me but also has messed me up worse physically.