Clinical research on alprostadil injection in treatment of patients with severe viral hepatitis

Objective To investigate the curative effects and safety of alprostadil injection in the treatment of severe viral hepatitis. Methods Total of 62 patients with severe viral hepatitis were divided into two groups, randomly as observation group and control group, with 31 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were subjected to routine therapeutic program including hepatinica, jaundice treating drugs as well as symptomatic and supportive treatment. Based on routine therapeutic program, patients in the observation group were given instillation of 10 g/d alprostadil injection. The course of treatment lasted 15 days and a second course was ordered if necessary. The therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were observed. Results The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (χ2 = 4.351, P = 0.037). Compared with the control group, the total serum bilirubin of patients in the observation group dropped to a significantly lower level (t = 2.488, P = 0.014), the blood coagulation factor Ⅱ activity was significantly increased (t=3.607, P = 0.001), and the incidence of hepatorenal syndrome was significantly lower (χ2 = 5.599, P = 0.018). No severe adverse reaction occurred in both groups of patients. Conclusions Alprostadil injection is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of severe viral hepatitis, which could be used as a potential therapeutic means to treat severe viral hepatitis.