Combination therapy improved aminotransferase levels and steatosis.
Currently, no specific therapy is used routinely for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Neither vitamin E nor ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) alone is effective for treating patients with NASH, but what about in combination?
Swiss investigators randomized 48 patients to receive UDCA alone (12–15 mg/kg daily), UDCA plus vitamin E (400 IU twice daily), or placebo for 2 years. All patients had elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, alcohol consumption <40 g weekly, biopsy-proven steatohepatitis (>10% of hepatocytes with steatosis), and no other causes of chronic liver disease. Patients underwent liver biopsies at baseline, and most underwent second biopsies 2 years later. Follow-up visits were conducted at years 1 and 2. Primary en…