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. 2008 Jun;2(2):196-201.
doi: 10.1007/s12072-008-9058-1. Epub 2008 Feb 28.

A randomized controlled pilot study of Pentoxifylline in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Yin-Mei Lee  1 , Dede S Sutedja, Chun-Tao Wai, Yock-Young Dan, Myat-Oo Aung, Lei Zhou, Chee-Leong Cheng, Aileen Wee, Seng-Gee Lim
Affiliations

A randomized controlled pilot study of Pentoxifylline in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Yin-Mei Lee et al. Hepatol Int. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is implicated in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Pentoxifylline inhibits TNF-alpha. We wanted to evaluate the efficacy of Pentoxifylline on NASH patients.

Methods: Patients with biopsy proven NASH and persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal were randomized to 3 months of treatment with a step 1 American Heart Association diet and daily exercise with Pentoxifylline or placebo. Liver function tests, serum lipids and TNF-alpha, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and plasma hyaluronic acid were measured at baseline, at weeks 6 and 12. Categorical data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test while independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used for continuous data.

Results: Eleven patients were randomized into the Pentoxifylline and nine to the placebo group. After 3 months of treatment body mass index (BMI), ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased significantly in both groups. There was no difference between the two groups in reduction of BMI (P = 0.897). There was significantly greater reduction in AST in the Pentoxifylline group (P = 0.038). There was a trend toward lower ALT level (P = 0.065) in the Pentoxifylline group. TNF-alpha and IL-6 decreased significantly in both groups after treatment, but there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: Three months of Pentoxifylline treatment in combination with diet and exercise results in significantly greater reduction in AST levels in patients with NASH as compared with controls.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of AST levels before and after treatment
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of ALT levels before and after treatment
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