BACKGROUND: Probucol, a lipid-lowering agent with antioxidant effects, is effective in normalizing liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We studied changes in the liver histology of patients with NASH after use of probucol for one year. METHODS: Ten patients with biopsy-proven NASH were included. Subjects were given 500 mg probucol daily. Liver biopsies were performed before treatment and after one year. RESULTS: Eight patients completed treatment. The mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels decreased from 94 and 55 to 41 and 26, respectively (P = 0.004 and 0.001 respectively). The scores for hepatic steatosis and necroinflammation decreased from 7.4 to 5.6 (P = 0.03). The fibrosis score changed from 1.1 to 1.3 (P = 0.79). No adverse drug effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Probucol is effective in normalizing aminotransferase levels in patients with NASH. It also significantly reduces the histology grade of steatohepatitis after one year of treatment.
BACKGROUND:Probucol, a lipid-lowering agent with antioxidant effects, is effective in normalizing liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We studied changes in the liver histology of patients with NASH after use of probucol for one year. METHODS: Ten patients with biopsy-proven NASH were included. Subjects were given 500 mg probucol daily. Liver biopsies were performed before treatment and after one year. RESULTS: Eight patients completed treatment. The mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels decreased from 94 and 55 to 41 and 26, respectively (P = 0.004 and 0.001 respectively). The scores for hepatic steatosis and necroinflammation decreased from 7.4 to 5.6 (P = 0.03). The fibrosis score changed from 1.1 to 1.3 (P = 0.79). No adverse drug effects were observed. CONCLUSION:Probucol is effective in normalizing aminotransferase levels in patients with NASH. It also significantly reduces the histology grade of steatohepatitis after one year of treatment.
Authors: Renata Belfort; Stephen A Harrison; Kenneth Brown; Celia Darland; Joan Finch; Jean Hardies; Bogdan Balas; Amalia Gastaldelli; Fermin Tio; Joseph Pulcini; Rachele Berria; Jennie Z Ma; Sunil Dwivedi; Russell Havranek; Chris Fincke; Ralph DeFronzo; George A Bannayan; Steven Schenker; Kenneth Cusi Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2006-11-30 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Arun J Sanyal; Pouneh S Mofrad; Melissa J Contos; Carol Sargeant; Velimir A Luketic; Richard K Sterling; R Todd Stravitz; Mitchell L Shiffman; John Clore; Alan S Mills Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 11.382
Authors: Kittichai Promrat; Glen Lutchman; Gabriel I Uwaifo; Renee J Freedman; Alejandro Soza; Theo Heller; Edward Doo; Marc Ghany; Ahalya Premkumar; Yoon Park; T Jake Liang; Jack A Yanovski; David E Kleiner; Jay H Hoofnagle Journal: Hepatology Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 17.425