[Tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid vs. ursodeoxycholic acid in the dissolution of biliary calculi. Results of a single blind...

Out of 34 patients enrolled and randomized, 31 completed the 6 months study period. Fifteen were treated with TUDCA, and 16 with UDCA. Dosage for both drugs was 10 mg/kg body weight daily. Superiprisingly, TUDCA was not found to be more active than UDCA in dissolving, totally or partially, the gallbladder stones; indeed, total dissolution was more frequent in the UDCA group. Since the two groups were similar as to number and size of the stones, the better results with UDCA cannot be attributed to the characteristics of the calculosis but must be ascribed to the molecule used. Both drugs induced an improvement in dyspeptic symptoms, but from this point of view, too, UCDA was more effective than TUDCA (p < 0.01). Finally, tolerability was also significantly better for UDCA, although TUDCA was altogether acceptable.