Study of Liv.52 therapy in infective hepatitis in children

(Mrs.) Shakuntala Saxena, M.D., D.C.H., Professor and Head, Ashok Kumar Garg, Postgraduate Student
and Ashok Jain, M.D., (Paed.), Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics, S.M.S. Medical College and Hospital,
Jaipur (Rajasthan), India.

Table 4(b): Laboratory investigations in Infective Hepatitis (Control group)
Investigations							Before				After
1st week									2nd week				3rd week				4th week										5th week
Serum Bilirubin							4.5 mg%				4.0				3.8				3.0			2.5			1.6
Serum transaminase			S.G.O.T.				105.0				100.0				90.0				70.0			50.0			35.0
S.G.P.T.						135.0				110.0				90.0				65.0			45.0			20.0
Alkaline Phosphatase							9.6				9.0				8.5				8.0			6.2			5.5
L.F.Ts	Icterus index						27.5				25.5				22.0				16.5			12.0			10.0
Thymol turbidity								5.0				5.0				4.5				4.0			3.0			2.0
Thymol flocculation								+				+				+				—			—			—
Serum total proteins							7.6 gm%				7.6				7.6				7.7			7.65			7.7
Albumin							4.0 gm%				4.0				4.2				4.2			4.35			4.4
Globulin							3.6 gm%				3.6				3.4				3.5			3.30			3.3

DISCUSSION Liv.52 is an indigenous herbal drug. That the use of Liv.52 in infective hepatitis leads to earlier improvement in symptoms and early return of biochemical abnormalities to normal levels has been shown with control trials by Sule et al. (1968), Arora (1969), Mukerjee and Das Gupta (1970). Observations in the present series also confirm this. Sule et al. (1968) observed that none of the cases treated with Liv.52 showed any untoward side-effects, neither did we observe any during the course of treatment. None of the patients treated with Liv.52 during the period of 3 years reported back with any evidence of post-hepatitis syndrome. In addition, it was observed that cholestasis was greatly relieved by a reduction in the intrahepatic oedema and cellular infiltration. The rapid cellular regeneration was probably due to the effect of Liv.52. Beneficial effects of Liv.52 therapy have been proved histologically by Mukerjee and Das Gupta (1970). Arora (1969) in a study of 676 cases observed that the exact mode of action of Liv.52 is still not fully understood. Liv.52 possibly stimulates the hepatic function by reducing the intrahepatic congestion, thereby relieving cholestasis. It is also likely that Liv.52 helps in quicker regeneration of the hepatic parenchyma. Its hepatostimulant, anabolic stomachic, choleretic and diuretic actions are possibly due to the different components of Liv.52. Thus Liv.52 brings about a definite although non-specific protective action on the liver in more than one way. Sama et al. (1976) observed rapid amelioration of clinical symptoms and signs, though the total period of recovery was not materially affected. The response seemed to be very similar to that of steroids, but without the latter’s side-effects. Weight loss was also minimum with Liv.52. They concluded that Liv.52 seems to be a useful drug for therapy of acute viral hepatitis. The present study was also a double blind control study and it was observed that the children suffering from infective hepatitis and receiving Liv.52 therapy showed earlier improvement in symptoms including S.G.O.T., S.G.P.T. and also return to normal of the biochemical abnormalities. So it is suggested that Liv.52 therapy should be employed in every case of infective hepatitis, as it leads to earlier improvement. No adverse side-effects of therapy were observed in the present study. In another series, the authors also studied 16 cases of Indian Childhood Cirrhosis in a controlled study on Liv.52. Nine children receiving Liv.52 along with conventional treatment showed symptomatic relief and improvement in biological abnormalities as compared to 7 control cases. In a double-blind study of 17 malnourished children the present authors observed that Lvi.52 therapy along with dietary therapy improves appetite and increases weight to a greater extent as compared to control children (9 on Liv.52, 8 serving as controls). Albumin and globulin ratios also reverted to normal earlier as compared to control children. So Liv.52 can be safely given as an adjunct to dietary therapy in malnourished children.

SUMMARY

A double-blind study of Liv.52 therapy in infective hepatitis in 30 children was undertaken. Therapy with Liv.52 resulted in earlier recovery and improvement as compared to children that did not receive Liv.52. The recovery observed was both symptomatic as well as biochemical.

REFERENCES

1. Sule, C.R. et al., Studies with Liv.52 Therapy in Infective Hepatitis. J. Ind. med. Prof. (1968): 14, 6391.

2. Arora, Major J.K., Role of Various Types of Treatment in Infectious Hepatitis. Armed Forces med. J. (1969): 3, 362.

3. Mukerjee, A.B. and Das Gupta, M., Treatment of Viral Hepatitis by an Indigenous Drug –Liv.52. Ind. Practit. (1970): 6, 357.

4. Sama, S.K. et al., Efficacy of an Indigenous Compound Preparation Liv.52 in Acute Viral Hepatitis – A Double-blind Study. Ind. J. med. Res. (1976): 5, 738.

Refference: http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/pdf_files/liv240.pdf