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Ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in hepatobiliary disease
1Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
The American Journal of Medicine
|April 27, 2000
Summary
Ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile acid, dissolves gallstones and aids primary biliary cirrhosis. Its effectiveness in other liver diseases requires more research, but it protects liver cells from damage.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring hydrophilic bile acid.
- It constitutes a small part of the human bile acid pool.
- UDCA is known for its therapeutic potential in specific liver conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in dissolving cholesterol gallstones.
- To assess the impact of UDCA on biochemical markers in primary biliary cirrhosis.
- To review the current evidence for UDCA in other cholestatic liver diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical data and studies on ursodeoxycholic acid.
- Analysis of UDCA's effects on serum liver enzymes.
- Assessment of UDCA's role in conditions like cystic fibrosis and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
Main Results:
- UDCA is effective for cholesterol gallstone dissolution in selected patients.
- It improves alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferase levels in primary biliary cirrhosis.
- Promising but preliminary effects observed in other cholestatic liver diseases, warranting further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Ursodeoxycholic acid offers benefits in specific cholestatic liver conditions.
- Its mechanism involves protecting liver cells from toxic bile acids and modulating immune responses.
- Further randomized trials are needed to confirm its routine use in various cholestatic liver diseases.
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