@article{oai:nagasaki-u.repo.nii.ac.jp:00010097,
 author = {Yamaguchi, Tohei and Ichikawa, Tatsuki and Takeshita, Shigeyuki and Taura, Naota and Miyaaki, Hisamitsu and Muraoka, Toru and Shibata, Hidetaka and Honda, Takuya and Hamasaki, Keisuke and Kato, Yuji and Takeshima, Fuminao and Nakao, Kazuhiko},
 issue = {1},
 journal = {Acta Medica Nagasakiensia},
 month = {Apr},
 note = {Background. Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), which is an isoprenoid compound, has been used orally as an antiulcer drug in
Japan. GGA induces antiviral gene expression by stimulating the formation of interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 in human
hepatoma cells. This study verified the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of GGA in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients.
Methods. The present prospective study included 20 consecutive anti-HCV antibody-positive, HCV-genotype 1b, and chronic
gastritis patients who visited Nagasaki University Hospital between January 1999 and December 1999. GGA (150 mg per day,
which is the dose generally used for chronic gastritis) was taken orally for four weeks. We evaluated HCV-RNA titers and other
clinical parameters at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at the endpoint of the study. Pretreatment was the beginning point of
GGA treatment. Posttreatment was the termination point of GGA treatment. The endpoint was the point four weeks after the
posttreatment point.
Results. All patients completed four weeks of GGA treatment and four weeks of observation. HCV-RNA titers at postpoint
were not significantly diminished compared to those at pretreatment. However, HCV-RNA titers were significantly diminished
at endtreatment compared to pretreatment. Unfortunately, we did not observe a case with no titer of HCV-RNA. Alanine
aminotransferase values and other parameters were not affected by GGA treatment.
Conclusion. GGA has anti-HCV activities in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients. In the future, it will be necessary to examine
the clinical effectiveness of the combination of treatment with both GGA and interferon in HCV patients., Acta Medica Nagasakiensia, 57(1), pp.1-4; 2012},
 pages = {1--4},
 title = {Anti-hepatitis C virus activity of geranylgeranylacetone treatment in hepatitis C-infected patients},
 volume = {57},
 year = {2012}
}