DIETARY TREATMENT OF CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

Authors:
  • APArthur J. Patek
    Arthur J. Patek
  • JPJoseph Post
    Joseph Post
  • OROscar D. Ratnoff
    Oscar D. Ratnoff
  • HMHarold Mankin
    Harold Mankin
  • RHRobert W. Hillman
    Robert W. Hillman
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Abstract
The present report is an analysis of results obtained in the treatment of 124 patients with cirrhosis of the liver by means of a diet rich in protein and supplemented by concentrates of the vitamin B complex. In 1937 a preliminary statement1was made concerning favorable therapeutic results obtained in 13 patients who had been observed during the course of one year. The improvement appeared to exceed chance expectations. A more comprehensive report2in 1941 was made on 54 patients that had been studied over a four year period. The results tended to confirm the preliminary impression. With the new dietary regimen roughly one half of the patients showed signs of significant clinical improvement. These results were considerably better than those observed in a control series of 386 patients. However, since cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease and since its clinical course may vary considerably in