Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis

Summary

The treatment of severe forms of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) constitutes a major challenge for clinicians involved in the management of severe alcoholic liver disease. In patients with Maddrey function higher than 32, compelling evidence from data has shown that corticosteroids improve short-term survival. However, novel strategies or molecules are required in light of the fact that approximately 40 % of patients continue to die at 6 months. A double-blinded randomized controlled trial of 101 patients has showed that Pentoxifylline improves survival of patients with severe AH, as compared to placebo. In terms of mechanisms, the effect of pentoxifylline is related to prevention of hepatorenal function whereas corticosteroids induce an early improvement in liver function. When considering these differences of mechanisms, many clinicians suggest that the addition of pentoxyfilline to corticosteroids is an attractive option that needs to be tested in patients with severe AH.

Timeline

Start

2007-12

Primary completion

2010-12

Completion

2011-01

Publications

• Results Lucey MR, Mathurin P, Morgan TR. Alcoholic hepatitis. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jun 25;360(26):2758-69. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra0805786. No abstract available.
• Results Louvet A, Wartel F, Castel H, Dharancy S, Hollebecque A, Canva-Delcambre V, Deltenre P, Mathurin P. Infection in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with steroids: early response to therapy is the key factor. Gastroenterology. 2009 Aug;137(2):541-8. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.04.062. Epub 2009 May 13.
• Results Louvet A, Naveau S, Abdelnour M, Ramond MJ, Diaz E, Fartoux L, Dharancy S, Texier F, Hollebecque A, Serfaty L, Boleslawski E, Deltenre P, Canva V, Pruvot FR, Mathurin P. The Lille model: a new tool for therapeutic strategy in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with steroids. Hepatology. 2007 Jun;45(6):1348-54. doi: 10.1002/hep.21607.
• Results Mathurin P. Corticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis--what's next? J Hepatol. 2005 Sep;43(3):526-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2005.06.003. No abstract available.
• Results Naveau S, Chollet-Martin S, Dharancy S, Mathurin P, Jouet P, Piquet MA, Davion T, Oberti F, Broet P, Emilie D; Foie-Alcool group of the Association Francaise pour l'Etude du Foie. A double-blind randomized controlled trial of infliximab associated with prednisolone in acute alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatology. 2004 May;39(5):1390-7. doi: 10.1002/hep.20206.
• Results Mathurin P, Abdelnour M, Ramond MJ, Carbonell N, Fartoux L, Serfaty L, Valla D, Poupon R, Chaput JC, Naveau S. Early change in bilirubin levels is an important prognostic factor in severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with prednisolone. Hepatology. 2003 Dec;38(6):1363-9. doi: 10.1016/j.hep.2003.09.038.
• Results Mathurin P, Mendenhall CL, Carithers RL Jr, Ramond MJ, Maddrey WC, Garstide P, Rueff B, Naveau S, Chaput JC, Poynard T. Corticosteroids improve short-term survival in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH): individual data analysis of the last three randomized placebo controlled double blind trials of corticosteroids in severe AH. J Hepatol. 2002 Apr;36(4):480-7. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8278(01)00289-6.
• Results Mathurin P, Duchatelle V, Ramond MJ, Degott C, Bedossa P, Erlinger S, Benhamou JP, Chaput JC, Rueff B, Poynard T. Survival and prognostic factors in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with prednisolone. Gastroenterology. 1996 Jun;110(6):1847-53. doi: 10.1053/gast.1996.v110.pm8964410.
• Results Ramond MJ, Poynard T, Rueff B, Mathurin P, Theodore C, Chaput JC, Benhamou JP. A randomized trial of prednisolone in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. N Engl J Med. 1992 Feb 20;326(8):507-12. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199202203260802.
• Mathurin P, Louvet A, Duhamel A, Nahon P, Carbonell N, Boursier J, Anty R, Diaz E, Thabut D, Moirand R, Lebrec D, Moreno C, Talbodec N, Paupard T, Naveau S, Silvain C, Pageaux GP, Sobesky R, Canva-Delcambre V, Dharancy S, Salleron J, Dao T. Prednisolone with vs without pentoxifylline and survival of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013 Sep 11;310(10):1033-41. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.276300.

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