Effect of cyclophosphamide in active nonviral cirrhosis.

The immunologic effects of cyclophosphamide were studied in 16 patients with active nonviral liver cirrhosis with a view to improving the pathogenetic treatment of these diseases. After months of cyclophosphamide administration first in doses of 100 mg/day (for 14 days) then in doses of 200 mg per week, the hypergammaglobulinemia present at entry was reduced significantly from 2.55 +/- 0.35 g/dl to 1.71 +/- 0.17 g/dl concomitantly with the proportional increase of the active suppressor T lymphocytes, from 29.3 +/- 3.59% to 38.0 +/- 2.1%. The use of smaller doses of cyclophosphamide, i.e., 200 mg/week, allowed the maintenance of its immunosuppressive properties and prevented its side effects.