bemethyl and Hepatitis-C--Chronic

Effect of actoprotector bemithyl (2-ethylthiobenzimidazole hydrobromide) on glycogen metabolism in hepatocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis was investigated. Using cytofluorimetric method, the content of glycogen and its fractions in isolated hepatocytes was measured. The treatment with bemithyl resulted in a decrease in glycogen levels in hepatocytes, and in a marked restoration of fractional glycogen composition as compared to the basic therapy. Besides, it was established that the degree of glycogen decrease in cells of patients with chronic hepatitis depended on the increase of glucose-6-phosphatase activity (r = 0.75, P < 0.05), and on the levels of glycogen in hepatocytes prior to bemitil treatment (r = = 0.87, P < 0.01). Positive changes in glycogen metabolism after bemithyl treatment are pronounced in patients with chronic hepatitis. These positive alterations take place simultaneously with the conservation of basic structural disturbances in the liver parenchyma. However, even in this case, the indices of glycogen metabolism do not reach the normal levels.

Topics: Antioxidants; Benzimidazoles; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Glycogen