Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of tiopronin and metoprolol combination in treatment of patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods 76 patients with ALD were recruited in our hospital, and were randomly divided into control (n=38) and observation group (n=38). The patients in both groups were treated with tiopronin orally, and those in the observation group were additionally treated with metoprolol. The treatment lasted for three months. Serum levels of liver fibrosis index, liver function index, portal vein diameter(PVD), spleen vein diameter(SVD) and spleen thickness as well as fatty liver were compared between the two groups. Results At the end of the treatment, serum type IV collagen, hyaluronic acid and laminin levels in the observation group were (84.3±24.7) μg/L, (142.6±46.8) μg/L and (134.4±35.2) μg/L, significantly lower than in the control; serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase levels were [(42.6±12.3) U/L, (41.3±11.8) U/L, (119.3±55.6) U/L and (91.3±37.8) U/L, significantly lower than in the control; the PVD, SVD and spleen thickness in the observation group were (11.8±1.1) mm, (6.3±1.2) mm and (54.3±10.7) mm, significantly lower than in the control; the percentages of mild, moderate and severe fatty liver in the observation group were 7.9%, 15.8% and 7.9%, significantly lower than 18.4%, 31.6% and 13.2% in the control (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of tiopronin and metoprolol in the treatment of patients with ALD is efficacious with reduced serum level of liver enzymes and liver fibrosis index, and the possible mechanism by which the regimen work might be related to the inhibition of liver fibrosis.

Key words: Alcoholic liver disease, Tiopronin, Metadoxine, Liver fibrosis, Therapy