Effects of lovastatin and pentoxyphyllin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Today, there is no ideal treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The present study intended to make a multicentric prospective study about the efficiency of lovastatin and pentoxyphyllin administered in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.


METHODS
87 patients were included in the present study. The patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and dislypidemia were treated for 4 months with lovastatin 10 mg/day and those without dislypidemia with pentoxyphyllin, 400 mg x 3/day. The patients were evaluated clinically and biochemically monthly.


RESULTS
Regarding the lovastatin-treated group, transaminases significantly decreased (p < 0.05), after the first and second month, as well as cholesterolemia (p < 0.001), and the APRI score after 2 months (p = 0.03). In the pentoxyphyllin-treated group, transaminases significantly decreased after 1 month (p < 0.05), and the Forns index after 2 months (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both drugs significantly decreased the transaminases. Lovastatin reduced the cholesterolemia in the dislipidemic patients. The decrease of the APRI score suggests that both medicines have benefic effects on the hepatic histology, too.
Mihaila
Romeo-Gabriel
RG
Medical Clinic II, Faculty of Medicine, "Lucian Blaga" University, Sibiu, Romania. romeomihaila@yahoo.com
Nedelcu
Laurentiu
L
Fratila
Ovidiu
O
Rezi
Elena-Cristina
EC
Domnariu
Carmen
C
Deac
Mircea
M
D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000637:Transaminases / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D008148:Lovastatin; D000637:Transaminases; D010431:Pentoxifylline