Abstract
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.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Controlled Clinical Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
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Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / therapeutic use*
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Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
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Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
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Bilirubin / blood
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Double-Blind Method
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Female
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Humans
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Immune System / drug effects*
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Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
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Leukocyte Count / drug effects
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Liver / drug effects*
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Liver / enzymology
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Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / drug therapy*
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Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / physiopathology
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Lymphocytes / pathology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Silymarin / therapeutic use*
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gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Silymarin
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Aminoimidazole Carboxamide
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gamma-Glutamyltransferase
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Aspartate Aminotransferases
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Alanine Transaminase
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Bilirubin