Steatorrhoea in cirrhosis: effect of ursodeoxycholic acid administration

In a double-blind, crossover study, 10 cirrhotic patients (Child B rating) with steatorrhoea (daily output of faecal fat greater than 8 g) and dyspepsia were placed on a controlled diet for 14 days. Patients then received 150 mg ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or placebo twice daily for 14 days. Faecal fat excretion was reduced from 14.7 to 10.6 g/day by UDCA and dyspepsia symptom scores were also reduced. Serum aspartate aminotransferase concentrations declined significantly (P less than 0.02) following UDCA treatment, whereas serum bile acid levels increased from 35 to 40.5 microM and the percentage of UDCA increased to 22%. It is concluded that UDCA may be useful for many of the symptoms present in patients with liver cirrhosis.