Combined phlebotomy and ursodeoxycholic acid treatment in the patients with chronic hepatitis C

As an option to interferon, either iron removal by phlebotomy or ursodeoxycholic acid administration has been recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Some patients, however, show only partial responses to such monotherapy. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a combination of phlebotomy and ursodeoxycholic acid in the patients who did not show normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels by either phlebotomy or ursodeoxycholic acid monotherapy. The combination of these therapies in any order additively improved the biochemical parameter to the upper normal range. There were no statistically significant differences between the results of the two combination treatments. The combination treatment was also effective in decreasing serum alpha fetoprotein levels.