Therapeutic effects of tiopronin on chronic hepatitis: a double-blind clinical study

The efficacy of tiopronin (2-mercaptopropionyl glycine) 600 mg daily in the treatment of chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis has been assessed in a double-blind controlled clinical trial of 12 weeks involving 165 Japanese patients with histologically proven disease. Treatment with the drug was associated with a significant improvement in abnormalities of serum transaminase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, with reversion towards baseline values on stopping the drug. Improvement was independent of the histological classification of the disease, or HBsAg status. The drug was well tolerated with few side-effects. The results of this short-term study indicate that tiopronin may be of value in the treatment of chronic hepatitis.