Probucol in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: an open-labeled study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of probucol, an agent with strong antioxidant properties, in reversing biochemical changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).


BACKGROUND
There is currently no well-established medical treatment of NASH. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a major role in hepatic damage in these patients.


METHODS
Cases of biopsy-proven NASH referring to a referral center in Tehran during a 12-month period were included in the study. Viral, autoimmune and other hepatic diseases were excluded. Alcohol ingestion was excluded by repeated questioning of the patient and at least two family members. Patients were given 500mg of probucol daily for 6 months. Serum levels of liver enzymes, the serum lipid profile, and weight was recorded monthly.


RESULTS
A total of 17 patients completed the study. The mean age was 37.2 years, 13 patients were male and 4 female. The mean pretreatment value of ALT and AST was 93.5 and 80.4 U/L, and the mean posttreatment value was 41.8 and 35.9 U/L respectively ( = 0.001 and 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Probucol, even in the low dose of 500 mg/d, appears to be significantly effective in decreasing the ALT and AST levels in patients with NASH.
Merat
Shahin
S
Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Malekzadeh
Reza
R
Sohrabi
Masoud Reza
MR
Hormazdi
Mahshid
M
Naserimoghadam
Siavosh
S
Mikaeli
Javad
J
Farahvash
Mohammad Jafar
MJ
Ansari
Reza
R
Sotoudehmanesh
Rasoul
R
Khatibian
Morteza
M
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011341:Probucol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D011341:Probucol