Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Propylthiouracil in Patients with Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(82)80257-6Get rights and content

Sixty-seven patients entered a double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of propylthiouracil treatment in severe alcoholic hepatitis. Twenty-three percent (7 of 31) given propylthiouracil and 19% (7 of 36) given placebo died during the 6-wk study. Propylthiouracil treatment did not reduce the frequency and incidence of complications in alcoholic hepatitis, but induced hypothyroidism in 4 patients. Treatment produced no beneficial effect on any of the hepatic biochemical tests. We were unable to show any beneficial effect of propylthiouracil treatment on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis.

References (29)

  • RA Helman et al.

    Alcoholic hepatitis: natural history and evaluation of prednisolone therapy

    Ann Intern Med

    (1971)
  • JL Campra et al.

    Prednisone therapy of acute alcoholic hepatitis

    Ann Intern Med

    (1973)
  • BL Blitzer et al.

    Adrenocorticosteroid therapy in alcoholic hepatitis

    Dig Dis Sci

    (1977)
  • JB Shumacker et al.

    A controlled trial of 6-methyl prednisolone in acute alcoholic hepatitis

    Am J Gastroenterol

    (1978)
  • Cited by (109)

    • Prevention and Management of Alcoholic Liver Disease

      2017, Zakim and Boyer's Hepatology: A Textbook of Liver Disease
    • Alcoholic Liver Disease

      2012, Zakim and Boyer's Hepatology
    • Alcoholic Liver Disease

      2010, Current Clinical Medicine: Expert Consult Premium Edition - Enhanced Online Features and Print
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    This work was supported by the Hastings Foundation, Los Angeles, California. Dr. Halle received a Fellowship from the Canadian Liver Foundation and Dr. Pare from the Medical Research Council (Canada). We are grateful to Dr. J. M. Weiner for the statistical analysis.

    This work previously appeared in abstract form (GASTROENTEROLOGY 1980;79:1024) and was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, November 7, 1980 in Chicago, Illinois.

    View full text