Systematic review: glucocorticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis--a Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticosteroids versus placebo or no intervention for patients with alcoholic hepatitis have been evaluated for more than 35 years. However, the results of randomized trials and meta-analyses differ substantially.

AIM

To review all randomized clinical trials of glucocorticosteroids vs. placebo or no intervention for patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

METHODS

We searched for randomized trials published before July 2007. The trials were assessed for risk of bias.

RESULTS

We included 15 trials with a total of 721 randomized patients. The overall mortality rate was 39.5%. Twelve of the fifteen trials were at risk of bias. Glucocorticosteroids did not statistically reduce mortality compared with placebo or no intervention (relative risk 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.11). Glucocorticosteroids significantly reduced mortality in the subgroup of trials with patients with Maddrey's score of at least 32 or hepatic encephalopathy and with low-bias risk. In all analyses, heterogeneity was significant and substantial. Trial sequential analyses using heterogeneity-adjusted information size demonstrated no significant effect of glucocorticosteroids on mortality. Weighted logistic regression analyses taking prognostic factors at randomization into consideration found no significant effect of glucocorticosteroids on mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence base of mainly heterogeneous with high bias risk trials does not support the use of glucocorticosteroids in alcoholic hepatitis. Large, low-bias risk placebo-controlled randomized trials are needed.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor ITF2357 selectively targets cells bearing mutated JAK2(V617F)

We investigated the activity of ITF2357, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) with antitumor activity, on cells carrying the JAK2(V617F) mutation obtained from polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients as well as the HEL cell line. The clonogenic activity of JAK2(V617F) mutated cells was inhibited by low concentrations of ITF2357 (IC(50) 0.001-0.01 microM), 100- to 250-fold lower than required to inhibit growth of normal or tumor cells lacking this mutation. Under these conditions, ITF2357 allowed a seven fold increase in the outgrowth of unmutated over mutated colonies. By western blotting we showed that in HEL cells, ITF2357 led to the disappearance of total and phosphorylated JAK2(V617F) as well as pSTAT5 and pSTAT3, but it did not affect the wild-type JAK2 or STAT proteins in the control K562 cell line. By real-time PCR, we showed that, upon exposure to ITF2357, JAK2(V617F) mRNA was not modified in granulocytes from PV patients while the expression of the PRV-1 gene, a known target of JAK2, was rapidly downmodulated. Altogether, the data presented suggest that ITF2357 inhibits proliferation of cells bearing the JAK2(V617F) mutation through a specific downmodulation of the JAK2(V617F) protein and inhibition of its downstream signaling.

Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases

BACKGROUND

Alcohol and hepatotoxic viruses cause the majority of liver diseases. Randomised clinical trials have assessed whether extracts of milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L) Gaertneri, have any effect in patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of milk thistle or milk thistle constituents versus placebo or no intervention in patients with alcoholic liver disease and/or viral liver diseases (hepatitis B and hepatitis C).

SEARCH STRATEGY

The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and full text searches were combined (July 2007). Manufacturers and researchers in the field were contacted.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised clinical trials in patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases (acute and chronic) were included. Interventions encompassed milk thistle at any dose or duration versus placebo or no intervention. The trials could be double blind, single blind, or unblinded. The trials could be unpublished or published and no language limitations were applied.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The primary outcome measure was mortality. Binary outcomes are reported as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were performed with regard to methodological quality.

MAIN RESULTS

Eighteen randomised clinical trials assessed milk thistle in 1088 patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases. The methodological quality was low: only 28.6% of the trials reported high methodological quality characteristics. Milk thistle versus placebo or no intervention had no significant effect on mortality (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.15), complications of liver disease (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.09), or liver histology. Liver-related mortality was significantly reduced by milk thistle in all trials (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.88), but not in high-quality trials (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.19). Milk thistle was not associated with a significantly increased risk of adverse events (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.50).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Our results question the beneficial effects of milk thistle for patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases and highlight the lack of high-quality evidence to support this intervention. Adequately conducted and reported randomised clinical trials on milk thistle versus placebo are needed.

Human platelet lysate allows expansion and clinical grade production of mesenchymal stromal cells from small samples of bone marrow aspirates or marrow filter washouts

We compared two protocols for the expansion of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) starting from diagnostic samples of BM aspirates (2-5 ml) or using the remnants in the bag and filter at the end of the BM infusions. The protocols differed in the presence of either 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 5% platelet lysate (PL). We obtained a significantly (P=0.02) better expansion with PL, obtaining a median 1010-fold compared to 198-fold with a selected batch of FBS and in fewer days (29.8 in PL versus 41.4 in FBS). Overall, we recovered a variable number from 54.8 x 10(6) to 365 x 10(6) hMSCs in PL versus a variable number from 2.7 x 10(6) to 31 x 10(6) in FBS. No difference could be found in terms of gross morphology, differentiation potential, surface markers and immunological properties (inhibition of allogeneic PHA response and mixed lymphocyte reaction) of cells expanded with PL or FBS. The preparations were found within the range of acceptability for all the quality control criteria. Due to the clinical grade nature of the PL and the reproducibility of separate preparations, we propose this method to obtain hMSCs even from minute amounts of BM cells.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor ITF2357 has anti-leukemic activity in vitro and in vivo and inhibits IL-6 and VEGF production by stromal cells

We have investigated the activity of ITF2357, a novel hydroxamate histone deacetylase inhibitor, on multiple myeloma (MM) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in vitro and in vivo. ITF2357 induced apoptosis in 8/9 MM and 6/7 AML cell lines, as well as 4/4 MM and 18/20 AML freshly isolated cases, with a mean IC(50) of 0.2 microM. ITF2357 activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, upregulated p21 and downmodulated Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. The drug induced hyperacetylation of histone H3, H4 and tubulin. When studied in more physiological conditions, ITF2357 was still strongly cytotoxic for the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent MM cell line CMA-03, or for AML samples maximally stimulated by co-culture on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), but not for the MSCs themselves. Interestingly, ITF2357 inhibited the production of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interferon-gamma by MSCs by 80-95%. Finally, the drug significantly prolonged survival of severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with the AML-PS in vivo passaged cell line already at the 10 mg/kg oral dose. These data demonstrate that ITF2357 has potent anti-neoplastic activity in vitro and in vivo through direct induction of leukemic cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the drug inhibits production of growth and angiogenic factors by bone marrow stromal cells, in particular IL-6 and VEGF.

Prospective identification of high-risk polycythemia vera patients based on JAK2(V617F) allele burden

The aim of this study was to determine whether the burden of JAK2(V617F) allele correlated with major clinical outcomes in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). To this end, we determined JAK2 mutant allele levels in granulocytes of 173 PV patients at diagnosis. The mean (+/-s.d.) mutant allele burden was 52% (+/-29); 32 patients (18%) had greater than 75% mutant allele. The burden of JAK2(V617F) allele correlated with measurements of stimulated erythropoiesis (higher hematocrit, lower mean cell volume, serum ferritin and erythropoietin levels) and myelopoiesis (higher white cell count, neutrophil count and serum lactate dehydrogenase) and with markers of neutrophil activation (elevated leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and PRV-1 expression). As compared to those with less than 25% mutant allele, patients harboring greater than 75% JAK2(V617F) allele were at higher relative risk (RR) of presenting larger spleen (RR 4.7; P<0.001) or suffering from pruritus (RR 3.1; P<0.001). In these patients, the risk of requiring chemotherapy (RR 1.8; P=0.001) or developing major cardiovascular events (RR 7.1; P=0.003) during follow up were significantly increased. We conclude that a burden of JAK2(V617F) allele greater than 75% at diagnosis points to PV patients with high-risk disease.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation following reduced-intensity conditioning can induce durable clinical and molecular remissions in relapsed lymphomas: pre-transplant disease status and histotype heavily influence outcome

The safety and efficacy of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for relapsed lymphomas remains unresolved. We conducted a prospective, multicentered, phase II trial. A total of 170 relapsed/refractory lymphomas received a RIC regimen followed by SCT from sibling donors. The primary study end point was non-relapse mortality (NRM). Histologies were non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) (indolent (LG-NHL), n=63; aggressive (HG-NHL), n=61; mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), n=14) and Hodgkin's disease (HD, n=32). Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 12-82). The results show that frequencies were as follows: cumulative NRM at 3 years, 14%; acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) 35 and 52%, respectively; 3-year overall survival (OS), 69% for LG-NHL, 69% for HG-NHL, 45% for MCL and 32% for HD (P=0.058); and 3-year relapse incidence, 29, 31, 35 and 81%, respectively (P<0.001). Relapse risk differed significantly at 3 years between follicular lymphoma (FL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (14 versus 46%, P=0.04). Molecular remission occurred in 94 and 40% (P=0.002) of patients with FL and CLL, respectively. On multivariate analysis, OS was influenced by chemorefractory disease (hazard ratio (HR)=3.6), diagnosis of HD (HR=3.5), and acute GVHD (HR=5.9). RIC allogeneic SCT is a feasible and effective salvage strategy in both indolent and aggressive NHL.

Prospective, multicenter, randomized GITMO-IIL trial comparing intensive (R-HDS) to conventional chemoimmunotherapy (CHOP-R) in high-risk follicular lymphoma (FL) at diagnosis

8006

Background: The GITMO-IIL trial evaluated if an intensified treatment with ASCT is better than conventional chemotherapy (both supplemented with Rituximab) in high-risk FL at diagnosis. Methods: Eligibility required a FL with aaIPI>1 or IIL>2 score and an age of 18–60. Primary endpoint was EFS. The analysis was intention to treat. Secondary endpoints were PFS, DFS, OS, rate and prognostic value of MR. R-HDS and CHOP-R have been already described (Ladetto et al ASH 2005, Rambaldi et al Blood 2002). Planned sample size was 240 to detect a 20% absolute increase in the 3-years EFS. However the trial was stopped at 136 pts due to R-HDS superiority in EFS at a planned interim analysis. Cross-over was allowed after CHOP-R failure. Centralized PCR-based molecular analysis was planned on BM cells. Results: Age, stage, LDH, bulky disease, B-symptoms ECOG PS, extranodal disease aaIPI, IIL and retrospectively assigned FLIPI were similar in the two arms. CRs were 59% with CHOP-R and 85% with R-HDS (p<0.001). At a median follow-up of 39 months EFS and PFS are 36% and 38% for CHOP-R and 66% and 72% for R-HDS. OS is 83% in each arm. 67% of relapsed R-CHOP pts underwent R- HDS. MRs were 44% after CHOP-R and 80% after R-HDS (p<0.001). MR was associated to a better PFS (p<0.001). Of note, 3yrs PFS of pts with or without MR was similar in the two arms (MR: 67% with CHOP-R and 76% with R-HDS) (no MR: 25% for CHOP-R and 32% for R-HDS). MR was the strongest independent prognostic factor for PFS, EFS and DFS by multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This is the first phase III trial including MR analysis in a high proportion of pts and comparing intensified versus conventional therapy in the rituximab age. This trial indicates that: a) R-HDS has a better EFS and PFS in truly high-risk FL patients; b) MR is the strongest outcome predictor available in FL; c) the similar outcome in pts achieving (or not achieving) MR, regardless of treatment received, indicates that the superior performance of R-HDS is mostly due to its superior MR rate.

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8123

Background: The high-dose sequential (HDS) chemotherapy approach, including early dose-intensification and autograft with peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC), was introduced several years ago (Gianni & Bonadonna, 1989); subsequently, it has been broadly used in the management of both non-Hodgkin s (NHL) and Hodgkin s Lymphoma (HL). The outcome of a large series of lymphoma patients treated with the HDS approach at 10 GITIL Centers is reported. Methods: Data have been collected on 1,266 patients, who received either the original or slightly modified HDS regimens. There were 213 HL and 1,053 NHL (630 intermediate/high-grade, 423 low-grade); median age was 46 yrs. Overall, 671 (53%) patients had refractory/relapsed disease, 595 (47%) were at diagnosis. Most patients were autografted with PBPC; 158 (12%) patients did not undergo autografting due to toxicity, disease progression or poor harvests. Results: Overall, 1,013 (80%) patients reached Complete Remission (CR) following HDS. As to December 2006, 93 (7%) patients died for early/late toxicities, 328 (26%) died for lymphoma, 844 are known to be alive. At a lead follow-up of 18 years, and a median follow-up of 5 yrs, the 5-yr Overall Survival (OS) projection is 64% (S.E.: 2%). The long-term survival was quite favorable in patients achieving a Complete Remission (CR), with a 5-yr OS projection of 76%. The prolonged OS in patients achieving CR was consistent in all lymphoma subtypes, i.e. both low and high-grade NHL (5-yr OS: 77% in both), and HL (5-yr OS: 72%). Patients at diagnosis had a significantly better outcome compared to patients treated for relapsed/refractory disease, again CR achievement was associated with prolonged survival in both subgroups (82% and 69%, respectively, at 5 yrs.). On multivariate Cox survival analysis, CR achievement was the most powerful predictor of long-term survival (HR 0.13, c.i.: 0.10–0.17). Lastly, achieving substantial tumor reduction before autografting had a major influence on the clinical outcome. Conclusions: 1. the HDS program is feasible in a multicenter setting; 2. the long-term outcome is well influenced by the CR status after HDS; 3. the influence of CR achievement on the long-term survival holds true in all lymphoma subtypes, including indolent lymphomas; 4. an adequate pre-autograft tumor debulking may contribute to a favorable long-term outcome.

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Anabolic-androgenic steroids for alcoholic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Alcohol is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the Western World. Randomised clinical trials have examined the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids for alcoholic liver disease.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids for patients with alcoholic liver disease based on the results of randomised clinical trials.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and Science Citation Index Expanded until June 2006. Electronic searches were combined with full text searches. Manufacturers and researchers in the field were also contacted.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised clinical trials studying patients with alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and/or alcoholic cirrhosis were included. Interventions encompassed anabolic-androgenic steroids at any dose or duration versus placebo or no intervention. The trials could be double blind, single blind, or unblinded. The trials could be unpublished or published, and no language limitations were applied.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Outcomes are assessed at maximal follow-up. All analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat method. The statistical package RevMan Analyses was used. The methodological quality of the randomised clinical trials was assessed.

MAIN RESULTS

Combining the results of five randomised clinical trials randomising 499 patients with alcoholic hepatitis and/or cirrhosis demonstrated no significant effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on mortality (relative risk (RR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 to 1.29), liver-related mortality (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.15), complications of liver disease (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.74 to 2.10), and liver histology. Anabolic-androgenic steroids did not significantly affect a number of other outcome measures, including sexual function and liver biochemistry. Anabolic-androgenic steroids were not associated with a significantly increased risk of non-serious adverse events (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.59) or with serious adverse events (RR 4.54, 95% CI 0.57 to 36.30).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review could not demonstrate any significant beneficial effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on any clinically important outcomes (mortality, liver-related mortality, liver complications, and histology) of patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Rapid and massive expansion of cord blood-derived cytokine-induced killer cells: an innovative proposal for the treatment of leukemia relapse after cord blood transplantation

We have used a standardized 21-day expansion protocol to produce cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells starting from very small amounts of nucleated cells (approximately 15 x 10(6) cells) isolated from cord blood. Mononuclear cells are stimulated with anti CD3 (OKT3) and IFNgamma and then expanded with IL-2. Moreover, we show that washouts of cord blood units bags (at the end of the infusion) may be sufficient to yield almost 500 x 10(6) CIK by the same expansion protocol. CIK cells show strong cytotoxic activity against a variety of tumor target cell lines including B and T lymphomas and myeloid leukemias. More importantly, expanded cord blood-derived CIK cells are cytotoxic against fresh leukemic blasts and express perforin, granzyme and NKG2D molecule at high levels. The same in vitro protocol has already been used to expand CIK cells from peripheral blood of adult donors under GMP conditions and therefore these observations open up the possibility of imagining a future clinical application of leukemia relapse following cord blood transplantation with CIK cells obtained from the same cord blood unit.

Long-term follow-up of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas treated up-front with high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation

We report the results of two prospective phase II studies investigating the role of high-dose sequential chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in 62 patients with advanced stage peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) at diagnosis. Conditioning regimen consisted of mitoxantrone (60 mg/m2) and melphalan (180 mg/m2) or carmustine, etoposide, Ara-C and melphalan followed by peripheral blood stem cell autografting. In an intent-to-treat analysis, 46 out of 62 patients (74%) completed the whole programme, whereas 16 patients did not undergo ASCT, mainly because of disease progression. At a median follow-up of 76 months, the estimated 12-year overall (OS), disease-free and event-free survival (EFS) were 34, 55 and 30%, respectively. OS and EFS were significantly better in patients with anaplastic lymphoma-kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), as compared with the remaining PTCL. Multivariate analysis showed that patients attaining complete remission (CR) before ASCT had a statistically significant benefit in terms of OS and EFS (P<0.0001). Overall treatment-related mortality rate was 4.8%. In conclusion, our findings indicate (1) up-front high-dose therapy and ASCT are feasible, but could induce a high rate of long-term CR only in patients with ALK-positive ALCL and (2) the achievement of CR before autografting is a strong predictor of better survival.

Rituximab-supplemented high-dose sequential chemotherapy (R-HDS) has better EFS and PFS than R-CHOP in poor risk follicular lymphoma (FL) at diagnosis: A multicenter randomized GITMO/IIL trial

7525

Background: HDS with ASCT is effective and feasible in FL at the multicenter level and suitable for Rituximab supplementation (R-HDS). This randomized trial compared R-HDS with Rituximab-supplemented CHOP (R-CHOP) in poor risk FL patients (pts) <60 yrs. Methods: Between 2000 and 2005, 136 pts have been randomized (68/arm). Eligibility required age-adjusted IPI ≥2 (125 pts) or, in the absence of this criterion, ≥3 IIL adverse factors (11 pts). Primary endpoint was EFS. Clinical features were: median age 50 yrs (22–60), stage III-IV 98%, elevated LDH 78%, bulky disease 66%, B symptoms 47%, extranodal disease (other than BM) 45%, ECOG PS >1 47%. R-HDS consisted of: i. 2 APO and 2 DHAP; ii. sequential administration of Etoposide 2g/sqm, 2 Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide 7 g/sqm with PBPC collection (in vivo-purged with 2 additional Rituximab); iii. Mitoxantrone (60 mg/sqm) + L-Pam (180 mg/sqm) followed by 5–8 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg. R-CHOP consisted of 6 CHOP courses followed by 4–6 doses of Rituximab. Cross-over was allowed. bcl-2/I gH-based minimal residual disease analysis was planned. Assessement was “intention to treat”-based. Results: Current data are updated at 31/5/05. Next closing date will be April 2006. The two arms were balanced. 68% patients concluded R-CHOP (failures were due to progression 29% and toxicity 3%) and 78% R-HDS (failures due to progression 9%, toxicity 5%, poor mobilization/refusal 8%). Toxic deaths were 4 (2 in each arm); in addition 1 gastric cancer and 1 AML occurred in the R-HDS arm. Progressions and non-responses were 31% with R-CHOP and 11% with R-HDS (p < 0.05) CRs were 58% and 87% respectively. Current median follow-up is 24 months. EFS and PFS at 24 months are 41% and 48% for R-CHOP and 66% and 75% for R-HDS (p < .001). At present OS is similar. Salvage treatment following R-CHOP is currently known in 22 pts: 16 received R-HDS, with 10 achieving CR. Molecular remission, (two PCR-neg BM samples at 6 months intervals), was observed in 54% of R-CHOP and 77% of R-HDS pts Conclusions: R-HDS induces more CRs and has better EFS and PFS than R-CHOP in this rare and aggressive population of high-risk FL patients. These results cannot be extrapolated to standard-risk pts.

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S-adenosyl-L-methionine for alcoholic liver diseases

BACKGROUND

Alcohol is a major cause of liver disease and disrupts methionine and oxidative balances. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) acts as a methyl donor for methylation reactions and participates in the synthesis of glutathione, the main cellular antioxidant. Randomised clinical trials have addressed the question whether SAMe may benefit patients with alcoholic liver diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of SAMe for patients with alcoholic liver diseases.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register (May 2005), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1950 to May 2005), EMBASE (1980 to May 2005), and Science Citation Index Expanded (searched May 2005).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised clinical trials studying patients with alcoholic liver diseases. Interventions encompassed per oral or parenteral administration of SAMe at any dose versus placebo or no intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We performed all analyses according to the intention-to-treat method using RevMan Analyses provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. We evaluated the methodological quality of the randomised clinical trials by quality components.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified nine randomised clinical trials including a heterogeneous sample of 434 patients with alcoholic liver diseases. The methodological quality regarding randomisation was generally low, but 8 out of 9 trials were placebo controlled. Only one trial including 123 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis used adequate methodology and reported clearly on all-cause mortality and liver transplantation. We found no significant effects of SAMe on all-cause mortality (relative risks (RR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 1.26), liver-related mortality (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.48), all-cause mortality or liver transplantation (RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.27 to 1.09), or complications (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.84 to 2.16), but the analysis is based mostly on one trial only. SAMe was not significantly associated with non-serious adverse events (RR 4.92; 95% CI 0.59 to 40.89) and no serious adverse events were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We could not find evidence supporting or refuting the use of SAMe for patients with alcoholic liver diseases. We need more long-term, high-quality randomised trials on SAMe for these patients before SAMe may be recommended for clinical practice.