Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on serum liver enzymes in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on serum liver enzyme levels [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)] in 101 patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients were assigned to receive UDCA (450 mg/day) over a period of 6 months and 52 to receive no treatment.


RESULTS
In the UDCA group, serum ALT and GGT levels significantly improved. ALT values decreased from pre-treatment levels of 157.0 +/- 62.6 IU/l to 82.5 +/- 46.4 IU/l (P < 0.05), and GGT fell from 141.3 +/- 86.2 IU/l to 66.0 +/- 49.5 IU/l (P < 0.001). No significant change occurred in the mean ALT and GGT levels in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our encouraging preliminary results must be validated by double-blind histological trials, UDCA may be an alternative treatment for patients who fail to respond to interferon therapy.
Puoti
C
C
Liver Unit, Marino General Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Magrini
A
A
Filippi
T
T
Annovazzi
G
G
Pannullo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase