title: Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis: treatment with S-adenosylmethionine.
abstract: S-Adenosylmethionine (800 mg i.v. per day) was used to treat two brothers and a brother and sister from each of two kindreds with benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis. Symptoms, routine tests of liver function, concentrations of total bile acids, and the oral clearances of [11,12-2H]chenodeoxycholic acid and [24-13C]cholic acid were determined before and after treatment with S-adenosylmethionine. S-Adenosylmethionine did not ameliorate symptoms or biochemical parameters of cholestasis but reduced bile acid clearances in 3 of 4 subjects. Transaminase levels in both subjects of one kindred rose during treatment. These limited, preliminary observations suggest that S-adenosylmethionine may be ineffective in the therapy of benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis and may be hepatotoxic in some patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Everson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahnen
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Krawitt
mesh_terms: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D001663:Bilirubin