Liv.52 trial in Infective Hepatitis
Mehrotra, M.P., M.D. (Luck.), F.R.C.P. (Edin.), F.C.C.P., F.A.C.C., F.I.C.A. (U.S.A.), Professor of Clinical Medicine, S.N. Medical College, Agra, India, Dinesh Chandra Mathur, M.B., Research Fellow, India.
INTRODUCTION
Infective hepatitis which occurs in all parts of the World is caused by a virus which was named Virus IH by Neefee. Later an ‘Expert Committee on Hepatitis’ of the World Health Organisation named it Virus A. There is, yet no specific treatment for infective hepatitis though various drugs have been tried and several authors have claimed their beneficial effects. Liv.52 (The Himalaya Drug Co.) is an indigenous drug used in various hepatic disorders and claimed to have beneficial effects.
COMPOSITION
Capparis spinosa |
65 mg. |
Cichorium intybus |
65 mg. |
Solanum nigrum |
32 mg. |
Cassia occidentalis |
16 mg. |
Terminalia arjuna |
32 mg. |
Achillea millefolium |
16 mg. |
Tamarix gallica |
16 mg. |
Mandur bhasma |
33 mg. |
in each tablet.
(Prepared with the juices and decoctions of many hepatic stimulants).
The present study was undertaken to evaluate its efficacy in acute infective hepatitis and to find out the clinical and biochemical changes in infective hepatitis of varying severity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Fifty patients with infective hepatitis (30 males, 20 females) in the age-groups of 15 to 50 years, who were admitted from July to December 1970 in the Medical Wards of S.N. Hospital, Agra, formed the material for this study. Thirty five patients were taken for trial in Group I while 15 acted as control, (Group II). Group I patients were given 2 tablets of Liv.52 t.d.s., along with intravenous glucose, while the control group received 500 mg. Vitamin C b.d. with intravenous glucose and corticosteroids.
Table I: Showing the age incidence in the different groups |
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Age distribution in years |
No. of patients in Group I |
No. of patients in Group II |
10 – 20 |
10 |
5 |
21 – 30 |
22 |
6 |
31 – 40 |
2 |
2 |
41 – 50 |
1 |
2 |
All the patients were clinically investigated and liver function tests were performed which included serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and zinc sulphate turbidity. These tests were repeated on the 7th, 14th and 21st days. The efficacy of the drug was estimated by the relief of symptoms and restoration of liver function towards normal.
OBSERVATIONS
In both groups the largest number of patients were between 10 and 30 years.
As will be seen from the above tables, yellow coloration of eye (74%), loss of appetite (72%), pain in the abdomen (58%), nausea (48%), fever (34%), and vomiting (14%) were the common presenting symptoms. Eighty eight per cent of the patients had jaundice, at the time of admission, and the rest of the patients developed jaundice later on. Liver tenderness was found in 76% and enlargement was observed in 64% of the patients. One patient each in both the groups had cirrhosis of the liver with infective hepatitis superimposed on it. (see Table II).
Table II: Giving the symptoms and signs in the 2 groups of patients |
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Symptoms |
Group I |
Group II |
Incidence % |
Yellow coloration of the eyes |
27 |
10 |
74 |
Loss of appetite |
27 |
9 |
72 |
Pain in the abdomen |
21 |
8 |
58 |
Nausea |
14 |
10 |
48 |
Fever |
15 |
2 |
34 |
Lassitude |
8 |
1 |
18 |
Weakness and fatiguability |
3 |
1 |
8 |
Vomiting |
6 |
1 |
14 |
Haematemesis |
2 |
— |
4 |
Constipation |
2 |
1 |
6 |
Loose motions |
3 |
— |
6 |
Swelling over feet |
2 |
— |
4 |
Bleeding per rectum |
2 |
1 |
6 |
Itching |
2 |
1 |
6 |
Burning during micturition |
1 |
— |
2 |
Drowsiness |
1 |
— |
2 |
Signs |
|||
Jaundice |
32 |
12 |
88 |
Tenderness of the liver |
28 |
10 |
76 |
Enlarged liver |
25 |
7 |
64 |
Oedema |
2 |
1 |
6 |
Ascites |
1 |
— |
2 |
Spleen enlargement |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Lymph nodes |
— |
1 |
2 |
Refference: http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/pdf_files/liv214.pdf