Failure of ursodeoxycholic acid to prevent acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Acute rejection is still a major problem after liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid has beneficial effects in cholestasis by reducing the expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens.


METHODS
We have performed a double-blind randomised study comparing ursodeoxycholic acid with placebo for the prevention of acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation. Twenty-six patients received ursodeoxycholic acid 600 mg per day and 24 patients received placebo for 2 months.


RESULTS
Neither rejection incidence nor rejection severity was significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.90).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that adjuvant ursodeoxycholic acid administration does not prevent rejection after liver transplantation.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid