Tauroursodeoxycholic acid for the treatment of HCV-related chronic hepatitis: a multicenter placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid is a promising drug for the treatment of chronic cholestatic liver diseases since it has more favourable physicochemical and metabolic properties than ursodeoxycholic acid. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid may be of benefit also for necroinflammatory liver disease, especially for HCV-related chronic hepatitis in which bile duct damage and some degree of cholestasis are frequently seen at histology.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients with chronic hepatitis were randomly assigned to receive tauroursodeoxycholic acid at daily doses of 500 mg or 750 mg, or a placebo for 6 months.


RESULTS
A consistent decrease in aminotransferase serum levels was observed in patients treated with tauroursodeoxycholic acid compared with placebo (p<0.001) and a progressive improvement with time was also found (p<0.05; linear time effect).


CONCLUSIONS
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid improves the biochemical expression of chronic hepatitis. Long-term studies with clinically relevant end-points are warranted.
Crosignani
A
A
Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine San Paolo, Milan, Italy.
Budillon
G
G
Cimino
L
L
Del Vecchio Blanco
C
C
Loguercio
C
C
Ideo
G
G
Raimondo
G
G
Stabilini
R
R
Podda
M
M
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase