Pentoxifylline for Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis (AAH)

A Pilot Study of Pentoxifylline-Therapy for Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline compared to placebo in AAH while studying putative mechanisms that are plausible and testable. The main hypothesis is that pentoxifylline reduces the 90-day mortality of AAH.

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline compared to placebo in AAH while studying putative mechanisms that are plausible and testable. The main hypothesis is that pentoxifylline reduces the 90-day mortality of AAH.

This study never moved forward due to funding issues.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inpatient with acute alcoholic hepatitis
• Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) of 15 or greater
• Recent alcohol abuse

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent infection
• Other life threatening disease
• Severe coagulopathy
• Another non-alcoholic cause of liver disease