Cytoprotection in the nineties: experience with ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin in chronic liver disease

The authors report their experience in the use of ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin in patients with active cirrhosis of different aetiology. Both drugs seemed safe and ameliorated the biochemical indices of cytolysis; however, the former did not appear to be effective when hepatic dysfunction was associated to hepatitis C infection. The residual functional liver mass, as assessed by quantitative liver function tests, was not affected by either cytoprotective agent.