The effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with severe obstructive jaundice after drainage procedure.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for patients with severe obstructive jaundice after drainage procedure.


METHODS
From September 1993 to December 1994, patients admitted with severe obstructive jaundice (serum bilirubin > 15 mg/dl) and successful drainage were enrolled into our study. They were randomly divided into two groups to receive UDCA 600 mg per day (UDCA group) or a placebo (placebo group) until operation or discharge. Bile drainage amount, clinical symptoms and signs and adverse effects of drugs were recorded daily. Biochemical tests, including albumin, total bilirubin, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and prothrombin time, were checked first, on the third and seventh days, and then two weeks after drainage.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight patients (M/F = 36/ 2, mean age 66.6 +/- 6.4 years) completed the study, 18 in the UDCA group and 20 in the placebo group. There were no differences in age, sex, causes of obstructive jaundice or methods of drainage procedure between the UDCA and placebo groups. Improvement in biochemical test results were noted in both groups. However, bile drainage amount and changes in liver biochemical test, especially the decrement of serum bilirubin, were not significantly different between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
UDCA seemed not to benefit patients with severe obstructive jaundice after successful drainage.
Hsu
S H
SH
Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Lu
C L
CL
Chan
C Y
CY
Lin
S H
SH
Chang
F Y
FY
Lee
S D
SD
D000368:Aged; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid