[Therapeutic effect in 3 cases of hepatic coma in viral hepatitis]

The author reports his observation on three cases of coma hepaticum in viral hepatitis treated at the Internal Diseases Ward, Military Hospital, in the town of Asmara, Ethiopia. Parallelly with the usual hepatoprotective drugs and antibiotics, corticosteroids were administered as well as the preparation Reducdyn, containing homocysteine and cysteine-carriers of sulphhydryl groups. Complete restoration to health was achieved in two of the patients after three days in grave coma. The third patient was aroused from the comatose state for six hours but later had a lethal end on the eighth day post coma onset. According to the author, the combination of that preparation with corticosteroids is pathogenetically grounded and enables the administration of the latter in lower and safe doses. The author stresses upon the importance of early therapy in coma hepaticum.