[Ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of chronic cholestatic liver disease. Documented delay in disease progress inspires hope].
The effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been investigated in a large number of randomized controlled studies. Meta-analyses of these studies have not proved a beneficial effect on survival. However, these analyses have also comprised patients with end-stage PBC as well as patients with very early PBC. A prolonged survival in such groups of patients is not expected to be demonstrated in short-term studies. Modified meta-analyses are underway. A number of beneficial effects on the disease process and complications still make an optimistic view of the drug in PBC justifiable. Limited experience suggests a beneficial effect of UDCA also in other cholestatic diseases.
Olsson
Rolf
R
Medicinkliniken, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, Göteborg. rolf.olsson@medicine.gu.se
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid