TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH ENCEPHALOPATHY - COMPARISON OF PREDNISOLONE WITH CALORIC SUPPLEMENTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 74  (2) , 169-173
Abstract
A previous report demonstrated significant improvement of caloric intake and survival in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and hepatic encephalopathy given prednisolone when compared with placebo. This study compared the effects of prednisolone with a regimen of 1600 cal/day without prednisolone. Patients (14) with alcoholic hepatitis and encephalopathy were studied. All 7 on caloric supplementation and 2 of 7 given prednisolone died (P < 0.01). Prednisolone therapy probably reduces the mortality of patients with alcoholic hepatitis and hepatic encephalopathy. This effect is apparently not related to total caloric intake.

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