Effects of malotilate treatment on alcoholic liver disease

Malotilate, a new hepatotrophic drug, improves serum transaminase levels and the markers of protein metabolism in the liver in chronic liver diseases. However, the effects of malotilate on alcoholic liver disease are not well known. In the present study, the effects of this drug on the recovery process of alcoholic liver disease after abstinence were analyzed. Many hepatic test values were significantly improved after abstinence from alcohol in both the malotilate-treated and nontreated control groups. However, the Normotest values improved significantly only in the malotilate group, and not in the control group. The improvement rates for choline esterase activity were significantly greater in the malotilate group than in the control group. Serum albumin levels significantly increased in the malotilate group but not in the control group. Changes in the serum markers of hepatic fibrogenesis were not different between the 2 groups. These results indicate that malotilate accelerates the recovery of impaired protein metabolism in alcoholic liver disease and that this drug may be useful for the treatment of alcoholic liver diseases.