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Effect of (+)-cyanidanol-3 (Catergen) in chronic active hepatitis. (Catergen plus prednisolone versus prednisolone in
Insights
(+)-cyanidanol-3 showed slight benefits in chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients, improving liver function and immune activity when added to prednisolone. This immunomodulatory effect suggests its potential as an adjunctive therapy for CAH.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic active hepatitis (CAH) is an inflammatory liver disease requiring effective treatment strategies.
- Prednisolone is a common corticosteroid used in CAH management.
- The role of immunomodulatory agents in CAH therapy is an area of ongoing research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of (+)-cyanidanol-3 as an adjunct to prednisolone in treating chronic active hepatitis (CAH).
- To assess the impact of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on clinical, biochemical, and immunological parameters in CAH patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized study involving 36 biopsy-proved CAH patients.
- 18 patients received low-dose prednisolone plus (+)-cyanidanol-3 (1.5 g/day) for 6 months.
- 18 control patients continued on prednisolone alone; immunological markers and liver function tests were monitored.
Main Results:
- Overall clinical-biochemical improvement observed in 10/18 cyanidanol-treated patients versus 6/18 controls.
- (+)-cyanidanol-3 showed a trend towards improved liver enzymes (GPT, gamma-GT) and IgG levels.
- It inhibited the fall in circulating T cells and increased lymphocyte proliferation, indicating immunomodulatory effects.
Conclusions:
- (+)-cyanidanol-3 demonstrated slight beneficial effects on liver function tests and immunological activity in CAH.
- The drug may serve as a valuable adjuvant in the comprehensive treatment of chronic active hepatitis.
- Further research into its immunomodulatory mechanisms and long-term efficacy is warranted.
Abstract:
Thirty-six patients with biopsy-proved chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were randomized. Of these 18 patients, 15 of them HBsAg and/or anti-HBc positive, received (+)-cyanidanol-3 (Catergen, Zyma) in doses of 1.5 g daily for 6 months in addition to the previously started low dose (10-15 mg/day) prednisolone. The other 18 patients, 16 of them HBsAg and/or anti-HBc positive, continued on the former corticosteroid treatment exclusively. After 6 months an overall clinical-biochemical improvement was noted in 10 cyanidanol-treated and in 6 control patients, while the condition deteriorated in 4 drug-treated and 8 control subjects. Serum GPT activity decreased to less than twice the normal in 12/16 drug-treated and in 7/13 control subjects, gamma-GT fell to normal in 7/16 cyanidanol-treated and in 1/10 control patients, IgG fell to normal in 4/8 drug-treated and in 1/9 control patients who all had initially elevated values. The percentage of "active" E-rosette forming cells fell in both groups but the decrease was significant only in the control cases, i.e. cyanidanol inhibited the progressive fall in circulating T cells during the course of the disease. Lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin stimulation, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation, significantly increased in the cyanidanol group. Anti-HBs titres were markedly raised in 7/15 drug-treated and in 2/16 control patients. Thus, cyanidanol had some slight beneficial effect on biochemical liver function tests and the immunological activity in CAH patients. Its use may be recommended as an adjuvant constituent of the complex therapy of the disease.