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G-CSF improved survival in patients with alcoholic hepatitis

Patients with alcoholic hepatitis who received standard medical therapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor had improved liver function and overall survival, according to data from a recent study.

Forty-six patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis were randomly assigned to standard medical therapy (SMT) with 5 mcg/kg subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) every 12 hours for 5 consecutive days (group A; n=23) or SMT (group B; n=23). After treatment, researchers assessed MELD, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) and modified Maddrey’s discriminant function (mDF) scores. They also measured the mobilization of CD34⁺ cells on day 6 and survival until day 90.

Overall, G-CSF treatment was well tolerated, particularly in group A patients who showed improved survival rates compared with group B at 90 days (78.3% vs. 30.4%; P=.001). After 5 days of treatment, researchers observed an increase in CD34⁺ cells in peripheral blood among patients in group A vs. group B (P=.019). At 1, 2 and 3 months, there were reduced median change percentages in CTP, MELD and mDF scores in group A compared with group B (P<.05).

“We conclude that G-CSF therapy was safe and effective in the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells and improved liver function and survival at 3 months in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis compared with SMT alone,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.