Abstract

CHAGOYA-DE-SANCHEZ, Victoria; SUAREZ-CUENCA, Juan Antonio  and  HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ, Rolando. Research and development of a drug for the treatment of cirrhosis. TIP [online]. 2005, vol.8, n.2, pp.106-114. ISSN 1405-888X.

Cirrhosis is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide because hepatic dysfunction constitutes a potentially lethal condition. Its etiology is variable and there's no treatment for prevention or regression of the pathology. But there is an increased risk of sepsis, bacterial peritonitis, variceal bleeding, portal hypertension and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. This document briefly describes the structure and functions of the normal liver in comparison to the cirrhotic liver. our experience regarding the studies of acute and chronic experimental hepatotoxicity using the nucleoside adenosine as an hepatoprotector is commented. The antifibrogenic effect of this compound increases collagen degradation through decreasing liver TIMPs levels, favoring normalization of liver function mainly by the promotion of hepatocyte proliferation. Comments on important aspects needed to promote the application of these findings in the experimental model to cirrhotic patients are presented as well. Some pharmacological and toxicological studies which lead us to the human use of this compound are also discussed.

Keywords : Pharmaceutical applications; cirrhosis; collagen; hepatotoxicity; tissue inhibitors metalloproteinases.

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