Acute infection with viral hepatitis C manifests most commonly no symptoms, but frequently results in chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C is in most cases benign, but may progress to severe illness and liver-related death. This review found no significant effect of glucocorticosteroids on chronic hepatitis, but the amount of data is sparse. Accordingly there is insufficient evidence to neither confirm nor exclude beneficial and harmful effects of glucocorticosteroids for hepatitis C. Further, the evidence is unclear as to whether glucocorticosteroids treatment can be safely administered for other diseases in patients with concomitant hepatitis C. The authors were unable to identify randomised clinical trials on glucocorticosteroids for acute hepatitis C.
No evidence to support or refute glucocorticosteroids for viral hepatitis C
Published Online:
January 21, 2009
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