title: [Is ursodeoxycholic acid effective in primary biliary cirrhosis?].
abstract: Ursodeoxycholic acid is considered as first line treatment in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Its mechanism of action in this disease is unknown and there is controversy about its clinical impact. Searching in Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening 19 databases, we identified four systematic reviews including 16 studies. We combined the evidence using tables with summary of findings following the GRADE approach and concluded ursodeoxycholic acid may not have any effect on pruritus, and there is uncertainty about its effect on mortality, need for liver transplantation or on any other important outcome for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Salud Basada en Evidencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; GRADE working group; The Cochrane Collaboration; Fundación Epistemonikos. Facultad de Medicina Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 63, Santiago Centro, Chile. Email: radagabriel@epistemonikos.org.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rada
authors.affiliation: Programa de Salud Basada en Evidencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mac-Namara
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid