Study on the efficacy of shorter-term glucocorticoid treatment to drug-induced liver failure

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of shorter-term glucocorticoid to drug-induced liver failure. Methods Eighty-three patients of early drug-induced liver failure were divided into two groups (control and treatment), and studied by retrospective analysis. Control group (47 patients) was received with practice of integrated treatment, and treatment group (36 patients) was received with practice of integrated treatment and glucocorticoid for 1 week (dexamethasone 10 mg/d I.V.). After treatment, the success rate and adverse reaction were compared between the two groups. Result The effective rate of treatment was significantly higher than control group(77.8% vs. 40.4%, P 0.01). TBIL, ALB and PTA of treatment group were improved obviously than control group respectively (203.8±89.5 vs. 260.3±105.8, P 0.01; 34.4±1.8 vs. 33.5±2.1, P 0.05; 37.5±3.2 vs. 35.8±3.5, P 0.05). The success rate of treatment was significantly higher than control group(58.3 % vs. 34.0 %,P 0.01). There was no significant difference between two groups for the incidence of complications. Conclusion The treatment of shorter-term glucocorticoid can improve the success rate in early drug-induced liver failure. These results suggest that when we really understand the application indications and treatment opportunity, clinical application of glucocorticoid is relatively safe.