Promoting hepatic growth factor in the treatment of heavy type hepatitis and severe chronic hepatitis: a multicenter clinical study.

Background: The mortality rate of heavy type hepatitis is high. No special treatment is available except general treatment. This multicenter clinical study was designed to observe the safety and efficacy of promoting hepatic growth factor (PHGF) in the treatment of heavy type hepatitis and severe chronic hepatitis.

Methods: 347 patients with heavy type hepatitis and 324 with severe chronic hepatitis were subjected to administration of 120 microg of PHGF per day for 4 weeks on the basis of general treatment. Those who were being effectively treated would last additional 2 to 4 weeks. Blood routine, urine routine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine (Cr), blood ammonia, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), electrolyte, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), serum total bilirubin (TBIL), serum direct bilirubin (DBIL), prothrombin time activity (PTA), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were detected in the patients before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and at the end of the treatment. Any side-effect would be recorded.

Results: In the patients with severe chronic hepatitis, the total effective rate of the treatment was 88.9%. The levels of ALT, AST and TBIL decreased significantly (P<0.001), whereas those of PTA and ALB increased significantly (P<0.001), and the level of AFP increased slightly. In patients with heavy type hepatitis, the total effective rate of this treatment was 78.4%, and patients at different stage showed different results. The total effective rates of patients with early, medium and terminal stage heavy type hepatitis were 89.9%, 84.8% and 27.5%, respectively. No severe side-effect was shown.

Conclusion: PHGF is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with heavy type hepatitis and severe chronic hepatitis. But it should be administered early in patients with heavy type hepatitis so as to get better curative effects.