A pilot study of thymus extract in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis

In previous studies it has been suggested that activation of cellular immunity may have a role in controlling the activity of chronic non-A, non-B liver disease. We conducted a pilot study of therapy with a bovine thymus extract for 6 weeks in 15 consecutive patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, most of them sporadic cases. Treatment induced immunomodulation, and in five patients a significant but transient diminution in aminotransferase levels was observed associated with increments in several parameters of cellular immunity. This suggests that a longer administration of this or other related compounds, or treatment with a more potent immunomodulating agent, might be effective in these patients.