Long-term response of primary biliary cirrhosis (stage I) to therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid

We report about a 56-year-old asymptomatic female patient, who was examined in April 1991 for an increase of biochemical parameters of the liver. Based on the biochemical and serological results (abnormal cholestatic liver function tests, positive antimitochondrial antibodies) as well as liver biopsy primary biliary cirrhosis stage I was diagnosed. Therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid (12mg/kg body-weight/die) was started. Follow-up examinations indicated that cholestatic parameters had normalized and antimitochondrial antibodies became negative. In a further biopsy of the liver nearly regular liver parenchyma was demonstrated. Thus, therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid was stopped. However, in November 1992 cholestatic parameters increased again and, antimitochondrial antibodies recurred (subtype anti-M9: positive) without any clinical symptoms. Ursodeoxycholic acid therapy was reintroduced again. Within 3 months cholestatic parameters returned to normal and antimitochondrial antibodies were eliminated again. Since then ursodeoxycholic acid has been given continuously and a long-term remission as defined by clinical, serological and histological criteria could be maintained until today. This case report indicates a serological remission and a marked histological improvement in a female patient with an early stage of primary biliary cirrhosis (stage I) during therapy under ursodeoxycholic acid. It has to be discussed whether certain early stages of primary biliary cirrhosis with benign antimitochondrial antibody-profile (anti-M9: positive) respond well to long-term treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid.