Effects of malotilate treatment on the serum markers of hepatic fibrogenesis in liver cirrhosis.

Malotilate, a hepatotropic agent, was given to 39 cirrhotic patients for more than 32 weeks. The serial changes in the serum levels of hepatic fibrogenesis markers, such as procollagen type III N-terminal peptides (P-III-N-P) and immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase beta-subunit (IR-BPH) were analyzed. Serum albumin levels, transaminase and choline esterase activities and the Normotest values were found to be significantly improved by malotilate treatment. The levels of both serum markers of hepatic fibrogenesis were also significantly reduced by malotilate. The prognoses of the decompensated liver cirrhosis patients treated with malotilate were significantly better than those who did not receive malotilate. These results indicate that the effects of malotilate on chronic liver diseases are not simply biocosmetic, but rather are related to an improvement in the basal changes of the liver, including a decrease in the fibrogenetic stimulus. These effects of malotilate improved the prognosis of liver cirrhosis.