title: Role of ursodeoxycholic acid in lowering ALT in chronic liver disease.
abstract: The objective was to see the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in improving the ALT levels in patients suffering from chronic liver disease. Thirty patients suffering from chronic liver disease (either B or C) were given oral ursodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 250 mg twice a day for 4 months. Their blood biochemistry and haematology were repeated monthly for 7 months i.e. 4 months of therapy and 3 months post therapy to see the response. The mean ALT levels of 30 patients who completed the study was 101 +/- 47 IU/L. During therapy 24 cases (80%) showed lowering of their ALT levels while 6 (20%) either showed no response or worsening of ALT levels. Of 24 cases who showed an improvement in their ALT levels; over 25% drop in ALT levels was seen in 217 cases (70%) and less than 25% drop seen in 7 cases (30%). The mean ALT values during therapy were 75 IU/L showing an overall 25% reduction from the baseline values. Following cessation of therapy the mean ALT levels showed a rise to 90 IU/L which was almost similar to 101 IU/L value in the pre treatment period. The study showed some role of ursodeoxycholic acid in improving the ALT levels in chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Medical Research Council, Research Centre, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Huma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Itrat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mehdi
authors.forename: Waquar Uddin
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Syed Ejaz
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase