Effect of Candesartan in Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis

Summary

Background: Alcohol is one of principal causes of hepatic fibrosis. Although the most effective treatment for alcoholic hepatic fibrosis is abstinence of alcohol consumption, additive treatment to reduce the accumulation of scar tissue can accelerate the improvement of hepatic fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease. The renin-angiotensin system can be an attractive antifibrotic target in liver. Several lines of evidence indicate that overproduction of angiotensin II(ANG II) in chronic liver injury stimulates the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) attributed to fibrogenesis. Additionally, the antifibrotic effect of ANG II blocking agent has been shown in various animal models and hepatitis C patients. Hence, drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system have promise in ameliorating hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver injury. However, no study has been conducted in patients with alcoholic liver disease to evaluate the effect ANG II type I receptor blocking agent on hepatic fibrosis. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the safety and the efficacy of chronic administration of candesartan to hepatic fibrosis patients with alcoholic liver disease. Methods 1\) Patients with liver fibrosis(F2) were randomized to receive either the angiotensin receptor blocker(ARB), candesartan(8 mg/day) with ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA)(600 mg/day)(n = 42), or UDCA alone(n = 43) as control for 6 months. 2)All enrolled patients underwent liver biopsies twice for measurement of fibrosis score, area of fibrosis and alpha-smooth muscle actin(SMA) positive and hydroxyproline. 3) Transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-beta1), collagen-1, angiotensin II type I receptor(AT1-R), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1), Rac1 and p22phox which represent oxidant stress were also measured by real-time RT-PCR before and after 6 months of therapy.

Timeline

Start

2005-09

Primary completion

2008-12

Completion

2009-03

Publications

• Background Corey KE, Shah N, Misdraji J, Abu Dayyeh BK, Zheng H, Bhan AK, Chung RT. The effect of angiotensin-blocking agents on liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C. Liver Int. 2009 May;29(5):748-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.01973.x. Epub 2009 Feb 9.
• Background Rimola A, Londono MC, Guevara G, Bruguera M, Navasa M, Forns X, Garcia-Retortillo M, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Rodes J. Beneficial effect of angiotensin-blocking agents on graft fibrosis in hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation. Transplantation. 2004 Sep 15;78(5):686-91. doi: 10.1097/01.tp.0000128913.09774.ce.
• Background Debernardi-Venon W, Martini S, Biasi F, Vizio B, Termine A, Poli G, Brunello F, Alessandria C, Bonardi R, Saracco G, Rizzetto M, Marzano A. AT1 receptor antagonist Candesartan in selected cirrhotic patients: effect on portal pressure and liver fibrosis markers. J Hepatol. 2007 Jun;46(6):1026-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2007.01.017. Epub 2007 Feb 9.
• Background Terui Y, Saito T, Watanabe H, Togashi H, Kawata S, Kamada Y, Sakuta S. Effect of angiotensin receptor antagonist on liver fibrosis in early stages of chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology. 2002 Oct;36(4 Pt 1):1022. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2002.32679. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications