[Treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A comparative study of ursodeoxycholic acid and alpha-tocopherol. A preliminary report].
BACKGROUND
At the present time, there is no accepted treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); nevertheles, there are some reports of non-controlled studies with apparently good answer with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as much with alpha-tocopherol (aTP).


OBJECTIVE
To value the clinical, biochemical and hepatic ultrasound (US) response in patients with NASH in treatment for 1 year with UDCA or aTP, as well as to establish tolerance, undesirable effects and fulfillment.


METHODS
Three patients received UDCA (250 mg TID) and six aTP (100 mg TID). Changes in hepatic function test and US were analyzed. All patients were women with an average age of 52 years, body mass index of 27, five with diabetes mellitus (DM) type II.


RESULTS
Fulfillment of treatment was 95%; undesirable effects were not reported; clinical course was asymptomatic and clinically we did not observe important changes; US showed favorable changes in four patients (44%), two in each group. Alkaline phosphatase was normalized in patient who initially registered it as high. ALT and AST average diminished by 40% and normalization was obtained in five of six patients in treatment with aTP (83%) and in one of the UDCA group (33%). No statistically significant difference was obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
The group is small and requires more persons and to be compared with a control group. It is possible that both drugs can be useful in the treatment of NASH; they are well tolerated and allow good fulfillment.
Bernal-Reyes
Raúl
R
Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital General de Zona No. 1 del IMSS, Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo. raulber@yahoo.com
Escudero
Roberto Bernardo
RB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D000637:Transaminases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol