Hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of antioxidant therapy
Láng, I.; Deák, G.; Nékám, K.; Müzes, G.; González-Cabello, R.; Gergely, P.; Fehér, J.
Acta Medica Hungarica 45(3-4): 287-295
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0236-5286 PMID: 3074277 Document Number: 320424
The hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of silymarin and amino-imidazole-carboxamide-phosphate were studied in 40 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in a one-month double-blind clinical trial. Treatment with either of the drugs normalized the elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and serum bilirubin, markedly reduced the high level of gamma-glutamyl transferase, increased lectin-induced lymphoblast transformation, decreased the percentage of OKT8+ cells and suppressed lymphocytotoxicity. None of these changes occurred in the placebo-treated group. Thus, the hepatoprotective effects of silymarin and amino-imidazole-carboxamide-phosphate in alcoholic cirrhosis can partly be attributed to the immunomodulatory activity of the drugs.