Benefits of stronger Neo-Minophagen C in acute hepatitis after transarterial chemoembolization therapy for hepatomas

Hepatitis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is common. Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) has demonstrated benefits in patients with hepatitis. We aimed to determine its usefulness in post-TACE hepatitis in patients with hepatomas. Overall, 60 patients with hepatomas who were treated with TACE were prospectively analyzed; of these, 30 patients underwent SNMC treatment after TACE. Daily serial changes in the liver function tests (serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], total bilirubin, prolonged prothrombin time, and international normalized ratio [PT/INR]) were compared between the two groups. Common complications, such as fever, nausea, and emesis, were also compared. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups (P > .05). Although the absolute value of AST/ALT was lower in the SNMC treatment group, differences between the groups were nonsignificant. Total bilirubin and PT/INR levels were significantly different between the groups (P = .03 and .02, respectively), thus indicating potential SNMC effects on hepatocyte regeneration. Significant differences were also observed between the groups with respect to fever and nausea/emesis (both P = .002). Side effects of SNMC, such as hyperkalemia or hypertension, were not significantly different between the groups. SNMC demonstrated some benefits in patients with hepatomas after TACE.