title: [Observation on therapeutic alliance with UDCA and glucocorticoids in AIH-PBC overlap syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cirrhosis (AIH-PBC) overlap syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  19 patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome were divided randomly into two groups: initiate combined group and initiate UDCA-monotherapy group. Biochemical responses and pathological features before and after treatment were analyzed retrospectively with student's t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the initiate combination group, biochemical responses in terms of AIH features (ALT decline to normal, IgG is less than or equal to 16 g/L) and PBC features (ALP decline ≥ 40% or to normal) were achieved. In UDCA-monotherapy group, no statistical difference existed in biochemical responses before adding glucocorticoids, whereas the levels of ALT, AST, GLB and IgG decreased significantly when combined with glucocorticoids. No statistical difference of rates of biochemical responses eixted between the two groups, whereas variance could be seen in different pathological stages. Alleviation of inflammatory infiltration after therapy appeared in 3 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy of UDCA with glucocorticoids could be suitable for AIH-PBC overlap syndrome. Early treatment is of benefit for achieving better biochemical response and pathological improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital of the Forth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yong-quan
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhe-yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Zeng-shan
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui-an
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin-min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase