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Treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis with low-dose ursodeoxycholic acid: results of a retrospective Italian multicentre survey.
- Source :
-
Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver [Dig Liver Dis] 2003 May; Vol. 35 (5), pp. 325-31. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Background: Data concerning the usefulness and type of drugs employed to treat patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis are controversial. Ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to be a useful agent, however the drug dosage and its effect on the clinical course are still under debate.<br />Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of low-dose ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis.<br />Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 86 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis from eight centres in Italy between 1987 and 1997: 69 were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (8-13 mg/kg/day), while 17 received symptomatic treatment and served as controls. The effect of therapy was evaluated by standard liver function tests and symptom analysis.<br />Results: Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment was associated with significant improvement in serum alkaline phosphatase (735+/-833 vs. 519+/-448 U/l, p<0.001), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (401+/-352 vs. 234+/-235 U/l, p<0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (87+/-70 vs. 56+/-42 U/l, p=0.001), alanine aminotransferase (146+/-139 vs. 76+/-73 U/l, p<0.001), and total bilirubin (1.88+/-2.44 vs. 1.76+/-4.12 U/l, p=0.01); there was also amelioration of fatigue (p=0.007), jaundice (p=0.002), and body weight loss (p=0.002).<br />Conclusions: Ursodeoxycholic acid, at a dose of 8-13 mg/kg/day was beneficial for the general condition and liver biochemistry of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis; high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid treatment requires further evaluation.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1590-8658
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12846404
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s1590-8658(03)00076-8