THE EFFECT OF SILYMARIN ON DECREASING THE ELEVATED LEVELS OF LIVER ENZYMES AND EARLY OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH DRUG POISONING ADMITTED IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Poisoning as an important dilemma of public health. In this study, we investigated
the effects of Silymarin on decreasing elevated levels of liver enzymes and early outcome in patients
with drug poisoning admitted to the intensive care unit.
Material & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 65 patients with poisoning were evaluated during
1394. The patients’ demographic information (age - sex), the initial level of liver enzymes was checked
at the time of admission and after taking the drug and also the outcome of the patients was evaluated.
Patients with history of alcohol consumption, another co-morbidity such as viral hepatitis and pregnancy
were excluded.
Results: In the group receiving the drug, ALT was decreased in 24 patients (58. 5%) and was not
decreased in 17 patients (41. 5%), compared with the control group, the difference was statistically
significant (P = 0. 04). In the intervention group, 21 patients (51. 2%) had recovery in the AST levels,
but in 20 (48. 8%) cases, there was no reduction in AST. This difference is significant in comparison
with the control group (P = 0. 03). In the control group, AST was decreased in 6 patients (20%), but in
18 (75%) patients no decrease was observed, this difference was significant between the two groups
(P=0. 03). There was no significant difference in serum alkaline phosphates between interventio and
control groups (P = 0. 26). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the patients in the intervention group
had a faster recovery in the level of enzymes and have been transmitted to ward or discharged earlier.
Discussion: The present study shows that Silymarin reduces liver enzymes and causes the patients be
discharged or transmitted earlier than usual to the ward and can be used in other cases in addition to the
current treatment of poisoning.