title: A controlled trial of 6-methylprednisolone in acute alcoholic hepatitis. With a note on published results in encephalopathic patients.
abstract: In a prospective double-blind study, 27 patients with alcoholic hepatitis were randomized for 6-methylprednisolone (12 patients) or placebo treatment (15 patients). The mortality was 50% among steroid treated patients and 47% in the control group (P less than .05). The role of liver biopsy feasibility at selection is emphasized since the mortality in this group was 10% as opposed to 71% when the procedure was contraindicated (P less than .01). Complications in the steroid-treated subjects were similar quantitatively and qualitatively to those observed in the control series.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D008775:Methylprednisolone