effect of misoprostol on acute phase of viral hepatitis b in iran

background most therapeutic interventions in acute phase of viral hepatitis b patients are conservative. prostaglandins have absorbed many scientists' attention for improving these patients condition, therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate misoprostol (pge1 analogue) effect on acute phase of viral hepatitis b. materials and methods a randomized matched controlled clinical trial was performed on two equal groups each included fifteen male acute phase hepatitis b patients who were anti hbc igm and hbs ag positive, hepatitis c negative and their total bilirubin level was more than 10 mg/dl. the experimental group received 800μg misoprostole (200μg × 4 times a day) while the control group received placebo for 14 days. their bilirubin and serum transaminases concentrations as well as pt and ptt were checked before and after the therapy and compared by chi square and tstudent tests using spss software. results at the end of the treatment phase, serum bilirubin, sgpt and ptt were significantly lower in the experimental group. after three weeks follow up, only sgot was not significantly lower in experimental group. at the end of the 4th and the 5th week after treatment initiation, serum bilirubin, sgpt, alkaline phosphatase and ptt were significantly lower in experimental group. conclusion these results confirm that misoprostol improves hepatitis b patients' condition and reduces their serum bilirubin, sgpt, alkaline phosphatase and ptt.