title: Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is associated with improvement of liver stiffness in cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) might prevent progression of cystic fibrosis liver disease, but objective parameters for its effect are lacking.
  
  
  
  We used liver stiffness measurements to evaluate the effect of Ursodeoxycholic acid.
  
  
  
  Paired measurements of liver stiffness were done in 73 patients without UDCA and in 32 patients with UDCA. In the latter group, 6 patients had cirrhosis; in 15 patients, UDCA was started based on Colombo criteria, and in 11 patients for other reasons. In patients without UDCA, liver stiffness increased: 0.19 (-0.03 to 0.59)kPa/year. Liver stiffness also increased in patients with cirrhosis: 4.6 (0.67-12.4)kPa/year. In patients who had UDCA based on Colombo criteria, a decrease of liver stiffness was observed: 0.70 (-1.6 to 0.55)kPa/year (P=0.01). In patients on UDCA for other reasons, liver stiffness increased: 0.23 (-0.20 to 0.51)kPa/year.
  
  
  
  UDCA reduced liver stiffness in patients with well-defined, mild liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cathelijne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Feen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hubert P J
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van der Doef
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.h.j.houwen@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Roderick H J
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Houwen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid
keywords: Cystic fibrosis liver disease; Fibroscan; Liver stiffness measurement; Ursodeoxycholic acid