title: [Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with cholestasis of pregnancy].
abstract: In an open, pilot study, the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy was investigated. Four patients received 1 g/day of UDCA during 20 days and another 2 patients received 2 identical periods of treatment separated by a 14-day interval free of drug. Pruritus and serum levels of total bile salts and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase improved significantly during treatment with UDCA. Although pruritus and the laboratory alterations had a relapse in the second week after UDCA was discontinued, they improved again in the 2 patients who received a second treatment with UDCA. No adverse reactions were detected in the mothers or in their babies. All newborns are thriving normally, in a follow-up that lasted 3 to 6 months after delivery. It is concluded that UDCA appears to be safe when administered in late pregnancy; its promising efficacy in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy should now be confirmed in controlled clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile (División Oriente).
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribalta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Danitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
vernacular_title: Efectos del ácido ursodeoxicólico en pacientes con colestasis gravídica.