Un estudio publicado en "Hepatology" indica que las estatinas, fármacos utilizados para reducir los niveles de colesterol, pueden inhibir la replicación del virus de la hepatitis C. Según los autores, de la Universidad de Okayama (Japón), las estatinas podrían sustituir a la ribavirina, que se emplea en combinación con interferón para tratar la enfermedad.
Recuerdan que esa combinación es efectiva en un 55% de los pacientes, y el 45% restante se enfrenta a la amenaza de que la enfermedad progrese a cirrosis o cáncer hepático.
Basándose en estudios previos que sugerían la posible capacidad de las estatinas para inhibir la replicación del virus de la hepatitis C, decidieron analizar en el laboratorio en qué medida lo conseguían cinco estatinas distintas –atorvastatina, fluvastatina, pravastatina, lovastatina y simvastatina-.
A excepción de la pravastatina, todas demostraron inhibir la replicación del virus, unas con más potencia que otras. Por ejemplo, fluvastatina es la que demostró un mayor efecto. Según comentan los autores, esta capacidad de las estatinas es independiente de su capacidad para inhibir la enzima HMG-CoA reductasa.
Hepatology 2006;44:117-125
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