Rationale for therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with cholestatic liver disease.
Ursodeoxycholic acid is increasingly used in the treatment of a variety of cholestatic diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis. The present article summarizes current understanding of the mechanism of action of ursodeoxycholic acid in these diseases. Apart from a direct hepatoprotective effect, ursodeoxycholic acid also influences the enterohepatic circulation with decreased ileal reabsorption and increased faecal excretion of potentially hepatotoxic endogenous bile salts. In addition, a cholehepatic shunt mechanism and immune modulating effects may also be important.
van Erpecum
K J
KJ
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Utrecht, Netherlands.
van de Meeberg
P C
PC
van Berge Henegouwen
G P
GP
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D004764:Enterohepatic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000188:drug therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid