Clinical, Functional and Histologic Responses of Fatty Metamorphosis of Human Liver to Lipotropic Therapy

Cirrhosis of the Liver

“…Good results are recorded with a basic caloric and protein intake, provided bed rest is emphasized and alcohol forbidden (Buck, 1948;Klatskin and Yesner, 1949). The addition of methionine and choline is said to be of value (Franklin, Salk, Steigmann and Popper, 1948;Kinsell et al, 1948) as is intravenous ' crude' liver extract (Ralli et al, 1949). These reports usually have either inadequate control groups or the controls are taken from a time when therapeutic measures such as chemotherapy and blood transfusion were not so generally available as they are at present.…”

Factors in the Treatment of Laennec's Cirrhosis. I. Clinical and Histological Changes Observed During a Control Period of Bed-Rest, Alcohol With-Drawal, and a Minimal Basic Diet 12

“…Clinical observations suggest that dietary deficiency may also play a role in the pathogenesis of Laennec's cirrhosis in man (11), and a number of investigators have reported that dietary supplements of protein, vitamins and lipotropes affect the course of the disease favorably (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

“…In the first, longevity statistics are used as the criterion for comparing treated and untreated groups, the latter having usually been observed some years previously (11,15,16). In the other, the effects of various dietary measures are compared either in the same patient or in small groups, using serial clinical, functional and, in some instances, histological observations as the basis for comparison (13,14,17,18). There are valid objections to both methods, but serial observations during alternating courses of therapy in the same subject appear to offer the most practical means for conducting experiments under controlled conditions.…”