A Controlled Trial of Steroid Therapy in Massive Hepatic Necrosis

An abbreviated, prospective, controlled trial of corticosteroid therapy in massive hepatic necrosis associated with acute viral hepatitis is reported. A high rate of recovery (seven of 11) was found among those patients receiving placebo therapy. The four patients treated with corticosteroids all died. Although the study group is small, these findings indicate that, with supportive care alone, a substantial number of such patients will recover from this serious illness. Since the condition is relatively rare, definitive evaluation of the efficacy of steroid therapy in improving this survival rate will require evaluation by a number of centers in cooperation.