[Treatment of chronic hepatitis. A comparative study of the effect azathioprine and (+)-cyanidanol-3]

The clinical, biochemical and histological results of the treatment of 2 groups of 8 patients each with chronic hepatitis (persistent or aggressive) treated with azathioprine (100mg daily) or (+)-cyanidanol-3(1.5g daily) are compared. The duration of treatmant was 6 months, with monthly examination during this period. The clinical results were comparable in the 2 groups. Among the liver function tests, (+)-cyanidanol-3 appeared superior in the case of total bilirubin, transaminases and BSP retention and azathioprine was superior as regards reduction of gamma-globulin, IgG and IgM. These different results appear to correspond to their different mechanisms of action. The tolerance was superior in the (+)-cyanidanol-3 group, in which no side effects were observed, whereas in the azathioprine group, treatment had to be temporarily interrupted in 3 patients showing leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. We therefore believe that it can be asserted that treatment with (+)-cyanidanol-3 yields results similar to those obtained with azathioprine, but being a non-immunosuppressive therapy is devoid of the severe consequences produced by a decrease in immunity in day-to-day clinical practice.