THE EFFECT OF POLYUNSATURATED PHOSPHATIDYL CHOLINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE VIRAL-HEPATITIS

Background: Polyunsaturated phosphatidyl choline is a preparation ofte n advocated for diseases of the liver. Methods: In a randomized open c ontrolled trial, a preparation of polyunsaturated phosphatidyl choline , at a dose of 900 mg orally daily, was given to 22 patients with acut e viral hepatitis, A control group of 25 patients was not treated. Res ults: Serial serum bilirubin and alanine amino transferase levels were measured up to 12 weeks. The falls in their levels after 2 and 5 week s. and the lengths of time to their normalization, were not significan tly different in the treated group compared to the control group. Conc lusion: The results indicated that polyunsaturated phosphatidyl cholin e had no beneficial effect on the course of acute viral hepatitis.