Journal of Hepatology
Volume 53, Issue 2 , Pages 390-391 , August 2010

Glucocorticosteroids in acute alcoholic hepatitis: The evidence of a beneficial effect is getting even weaker

  • Erik Christensen

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress: Department of Medical Endocrinology and Gastroenterology I, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Tel.: +45 3531 2854; fax: +45 3531 3556.

Received 30 November 2009 ,Accepted 17 December 2009.

References 

  1. Conn HO. Steroid treatment of alcoholic hepatitis. The yeas and the nays. Gastroenterology. 1978;74:319–322
  2. Christensen E, Gluud C. Glucocorticoids are ineffective in alcoholic hepatitis: a meta-analysis adjusting for confounding variables. Gut. 1995;37:113–118
  3. Christensen E. Alcoholic hepatitis – glucocorticosteroids or not?. J Hepatol. 2002;36:547–548
  4. Rambaldi A, Saconato HH, Christensen E, Thorlund K, Wetterslev J, Gluud C. Systematic review: glucocorticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis – a Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses of randomized clinical trials. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008;27:1167–1178
  5. Tan HH, Virmani S, Martin P. Controversies in the management of alcoholic liver disease. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009;76:484–498
  6. Forrest EH, Morris AJ, Stewart S, Phillips M, Oo YH, Fisher NC, et al. The Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score identifies patients who may benefit from corticosteroids. Gut. 2007;56:1743–1746
  7. Louvet A, Naveau S, Abdelnour M, Ramond MJ, Diaz E, Fartoux L, et al. The Lille model: a new tool for therapeutic strategy in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with steroids. Hepatology. 2007;45:1348–1354
  8. Mathurin P, O’Grady J, Carithers RL, Martin P, Ramond M-R, Louvet A, et al. Corticosteroids improve 28-day survival in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: individual data analysis of the last 5 randomized controlled trials. Hepatology. 2008;48:S635A
  9. Christensen E, Schlichting P, Andersen PK, Fauerholdt L, Juhl E, Poulsen H, et al. A therapeutic index that predicts the individual effects of prednisone in patients with cirrhosis. Gastroenterology. 1985;88:156–165
  10. Louvet A, Wartel F, Castel H, Dharancy S, Hollebecque A, Canva-Delcambre V, et al. Infection in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis treated with steroids: early response to therapy is the key factor. Gastroenterology. 2009;137:541–548

PII: S0168-8278(10)00267-9

doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2009.12.045

Journal of Hepatology
Volume 53, Issue 2 , Pages 390-391 , August 2010

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