[Treatment of chronic diseases of the liver with catergen].

Fifty-seven patients with chronic liver diseases of different etiology were treated with catergen ((+)-cyanidanol 3) given in a dose of 1.5 g (3 tablets) a day throughout 3 months. The findings were compared with those derived in the control groups of patients (82) who received vitamins or essentiale. It was shown that catergen significantly improved some biochemical characteristics of the blood and indicators of the antipyrine test in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis of the viral and alcoholic etiology. In patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, catergen, like essentiale, exerted an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation in the liver. There were no significant differences in the biochemical characteristics of the blood in patients with chronic alcoholic hepatitis treated with catergen and control group patients. In patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, catergen exerted an insignificant symptomatic effect but in single cases. The side dyspeptic effects which demanded the drug withdrawal were only recorded in 2 patients. It is concluded that catergen may be used in the treatment of virus- and alcohol-induced chronic liver diseases of moderate activity.