A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter trial of etanercept in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis

Gastroenterology. 2008 Dec;135(6):1953-60. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2008.08.057. Epub 2008 Sep 13.

Abstract

Background & aims: Alcoholic hepatitis is a cause of major morbidity and mortality that lacks effective therapies. Both experimental and clinical evidence indicate that the multifunctional cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) contributes to pathogenesis and clinical sequelae of alcoholic hepatitis. A pilot study demonstrated that the TNF-alpha-neutralizing molecule etanercept could be an effective treatment for patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with moderate to severe alcoholic hepatitis (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score > or = 15) were enrolled and randomized to groups that were given up to 6 subcutaneous injections of either etanercept or placebo for 3 weeks. Primary study end points included mortality at 1- and 6-month time points.

Results: There were no significant baseline differences between the placebo and etanercept groups in demographics or disease severity parameters including age, gender, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score. The 1-month mortality rates of patients receiving placebo and etanercept were similar on an intention-to-treat basis (22.7% vs 36.4%, respectively; OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.5-6.5). The 6-month mortality rate was significantly higher in the etanercept group compared with the placebo group (57.7% vs 22.7%, respectively; OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.3-16.4; P = .017). Rates of infectious serious adverse events were significantly higher in the etanercept group compared with the placebo group (34.6% vs 9.1%, respectively, P = .04).

Conclusions: In patients with moderate to severe alcoholic hepatitis, etanercept was associated with a significantly higher mortality rate after 6 months, indicating that etanercept is not effective for the treatment of patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis, Alcoholic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis, Alcoholic / mortality
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage*
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / administration & dosage*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Etanercept