[Controlled clinical trial of 2-mercapto-propionyl-glycine in chronic hepatopathies]

A controlled clinical trial comparing 2-Mercapto-Priopionyl-Glycine (2-MPG) plus B12 vitamin with B12 vitamin alone in chronic liver disease has been conducted in seven hospitals in Italy. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of liver histology; group I included 26 patients showing histological evidence for chronic persistent hepatitis (C.P.H.) (according to De Groote et al.) whereas group II consisted of 54 patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis (C.A.H.) or compensated liver cirrhosis. Patients of each group were randomly allocated to 2-MPG plus B12 vitamin, or to placebo plus B12 vitamin, in a double-blind way. The drug (or placebo) was diluted in 500 ml of 10% Levulose, and administered intravenously; 1000 gamma of B12 vitamin were added to each bottle. Patients in the 2-MPG group received 2.5 gms of the drug daily; the treatment lasted for 30 days. The following parameters were checked in all patients on admission, and repeated at the end of treatment: Serum bilirubin, serum Cholesterol, A.P., BSP retention, Prothrombin time, S-GOT, S-GPT, Gamma-GT, Total serum Protein, serum electrophoresis, Immunoglobulins. Patients given 2-MPG showed significant decreases of serum transaminases, and improvement of BSP retention.