title: Dissolution of cholesterol gallstones by ursodeoxycholic acid.
abstract: 44 patients with radiolucent gallstones in gallbladders visible on cholecystography were randomly alloted to three treatment groups: ursodeoxycholic acid (600 mg/day), ursodeoxycholic acid (150 mg/day), a placebo. At the end of six months' treatment, cholecystograms of all the patients were interpreted by radiologists who were not aware of the treatment. Dissolution of gallstones occurred in 8 (26%) of the 31 patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, but not in the placebo group. Ursodeoxycholic acid had no hepatotoxicity, as assessed by standard liver-function tests. These results indicate that ursodeoxycholic acid, the 7beta epimer of chenodeoxycholic acid, is effective in the dissolution of cholesterol gallstones.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001646:Bile / Q000032:analysis; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase