title: [Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis with silymarin. A double-blind comparative study in 116 patients].
abstract: A randomized double-blind trial of silymarin versus placebo was carried out in 116 patients with histologically proven alcoholic hepatitis, 58 of them with cirrhosis. Patients were not included in case of hepatic encephalopathy, contraindication to percutaneous liver biopsy, hepatocellular carcinoma, evident lack of discipline or refusal to enter the trial. Fifty-seven patients received silymarin orally 420 mg/day and 59 received placebo during 3 months. Biologic parameters were assessed in the serum, and a percutaneous liver biopsy was obtained at the start of the trial and 3 months later. Histologic scores of alcoholic hepatitis and fibrosis were established on each biopsy specimen by two independent pathologists. The 2 groups were comparable at inclusion; 26 p. 100 of patients were lost to follow-up at 3 months, abstinence was obtained in 46 p. 100 of patients at the end of the trial. These percentages were similar in the two groups. Four patients died of hepatic failure during the trial, 3 in the placebo group. Significant improvement in the score of alcoholic hepatitis and serum amino transferase activity, was noted in both groups during the trial, irrespective of treatment with silymarin or placebo. No side-effects were noted. Our results suggest that silymarin 420 mg/d is not clinically relevant in the treatment of moderate alcoholic hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et d'Anatomopathologie, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Bondy.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Trinchet
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Lévy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vivet
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duchatelle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legendre
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gotheil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beaugrand
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D012838:Silymarin
vernacular_title: Traitement de l'hépatite alcoolique par la silymarine. Une étude comparative en double insu chez 116 malades.