THE LONG-TERM EFFICACY OF GLYCYRRHIZIN IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C PATIENTS

BACKGROUND. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in patients with hep atitis C virus-RNA positive chronic liver disease. It is important to prevent HCC with drug administration. METHODS. A retrospective study w as undertaken to evaluate the long term preventive effect of Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) on HCC development. SNMC is a Japanese medicin e that is commonly administered to patients with chronic hepatitis C t o improve the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. Of 453 patie nts diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C retrospectively in the study ho spital between January 1979 and April 1984, 84 patients (Group A) had been treated with SNMC; SNMC was given at a dose of 100 mL daily for 8 weeks, then 2-7 times a week for 2-16 years (median, 10.1 years). Ano ther group of 109 patients (Group B) could not be treated with SNMC or interferon for a long period of time (median, 9.2 years) and were giv en other herbal medicine (such as vitamin K). The patients were retros pectively monitored, and the cumulative incidence of HCC and risk fact ors for HCC were examined. RESULTS. The 10th-year rates of cumulative HCC incidence for Groups A and B were 7% and 12%, respectively, and th e 15th-year rates were 12% and 25%. By Cox regression analysis, the re lative risk of HCC incidence in patients not treated with SNMC (Group B) was 2.49 compared with that of patients treated with SNMC (Group A) . CONCLUSIONS. In this study, long term administration of SNMC in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C was effective in preventing liver car cinogenesis. (C) 1997 American Cancer Society.