Therapeutic efficacy of 18 α-Diammonium glycyrrhizinate phosphatidylcholine complex in patients with chronic virus hepatitis

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effieacy and safety of 18 α-Diammonium glycyrrhizinate phosphatidylcholine complex (DGPC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B and or C with elevated aminotransferase. Methods 55 patients with chronic hepatitis B and or C, with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of 2 to 10 times the upper limit of normal were randomly assigned to receive DGPC or Diammonium glyeyrrhizinate (DG) for 12 weeks. Then they were followed up for an additional 4 weeks. From week 1 to 10, DGPC or DG was given as 150 nag,three times a day (TID). At the 11th week,the drug was given as 100 mg,TID. Then 50 mg,TID for the 12th week. Results ALT was markedly decreased after receiving DGPC 4,8,12 weeks (P=0.00). ALT normalization rate at the end of therapy was similar (38.5% vs 34.5% ,P =0.76). Drug-related adverse events were similar. Conclusion DGPC can rapidly and safely decrease aminotransferase in patients with chronic viurs hepatitis. Key words: Virus hepatitis;  Diammoniurn glycyrrhizinate;  Phosphatidylcholine complex