Serum carnitine levels in chronic hepatitis C patients before and after lymphoblastoid interferon-α treatment

Objective: Chronic liver disease is often a hypocarnitinaemic condition. Since carnitine affects lipid metabolism, modifications of lipid pattern and energy metabolism can be expected in patients affected by chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum carnitine levels and the grading of chronic hepatitis C, and to evaluate the effects of lymphoblastiod interferon (IFN)-alpha n1 on carnitine levels in patients with hepatitis C. Design: We evaluated carnitine serum levels in a group of 32 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with intramuscular IFN alpha 3MU 3 times/week for 6 months, comparing them with levels in 20 healthy controls. Statistical correlations between serum carnitine, histological activity index score, duration of disease and lipid pattern were also evaluated. Results: Serum carnitine levels, which were statistically lower in hepatitis C patients than in controls before therapy, increased after IFN alpha (p = 0.0003 vs pretreatment). There were no significant changes in total cholesterol in any patient after treatment, although serum triglyceride levels increased (p = 0.0003). Serum carnitine levels were correlated with age (r = 0.35; p = 0.02), type of response (r = - 03; p = 0.04), duration of disease (r = - 0.8; p = 0.0001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (r = 0.43; p = 0.005) after completion of IFN alpha treatment. Conclusion: It is suggested that the post-treatment increase in serum carnitine observed in this study could be considered a new index of improved liver function. Also, exogenous administration of carnitine may be useful in patients with chronic hepatitis C who have reduced endogenous synthesis of this substance.