Can alprostadil improve liver failure in HIV-infected patients with severe acute viral hepatitis?
Liver failure with hepatic encephalopathy during an acute viral hepatitis carries a very high mortality. Liver transplantation is the usual treatment, but for poor candidates for transplantation only supportive therapy is available. Two patients with HIV infection developed an acute B hepatitis with liver insufficiency and hepatic encephalopathy. After an alprostadil infusion was begun they improved quickly and made a full recovery. This drug merits further investigation.
Reus
S
S
Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Spain.
Priego
M
M
Boix
V
V
Torrús
D
D
Portilla
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D000527:Alprostadil