Key result
Interferon therapy linked to decreased CK, CK-MB, and cTnT in one HCV-associated cardiomyopathy patient.
Why the study?
Does interferon therapy improve biomarker levels in a patient with HCV-associated dilated cardiomyopathy and striated myopathy?
Case Report (n=1)
Does interferon therapy improve biomarker levels in a patient with HCV-associated dilated cardiomyopathy and striated myopathy?
Interferon therapy guided by serial cardiac troponin T monitoring may be effective in treating HCV-associated cardiomyopathy.
May support interferon in HCV cardiomyopathy; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice without trials.
The present authors recently suggested, on the basis of studies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is involved in the etiology or pathogenesis of cardiomyopathic disorders. They have also reported that the serum concentration of cardiac troponin T is an indicator of ongoing myocyte degeneration in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypothesized that its serial measurement may be a marker of therapeutic efficacy. This is the first case report of DCM and striated myopathy, associated with HCV infection, treated with interferon therapy guided by monitoring of serial serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T. Positive-plus strands of HCV RNA were found in the patient's myocardium, as well as plus and minus strands in the quadriceps muscle specimens. Serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB and cardiac troponin T fell as serum HCV titers decreased during treatment with interferon, whereas conventional treatment of heart failure had no effect. Monitoring of serial serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T may allow the earlier diagnosis and treatment of patients with HCV-associated cardiomyopathy and improve their clinical course.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sato et al. (2000) conducted a case report in Dilated cardiomyopathy and striated myopathy associated with hepatitis C virus infection (n=1). Interferon therapy vs. Conventional treatment of heart failure was evaluated on Serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB and cardiac troponin T. Interferon therapy decreased serum levels of creatine kinase, CK-MB, and cardiac troponin T as serum HCV titers fell in a patient with HCV-associated cardiomyopathy.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: