TAUROURSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C - EFFECT ON SERUM LEVELS OF TRANSAMINASES AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSPEPTIDASE

The study population included 134 consecutive patients of both sexes, ranging in age from 20 to 78 years, suffering from chronic hepatitis C. At baseline, all patients had serum levels of alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferase at least twice the normal maximum value (40 U/L). In the 12 months prior to the study, all patients had undergone liver biopsy. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed on enrollment. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) was administered at a dose of 500 mg per day for 90 days. ALT, AST, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were monitored monthly. At the first evaluation, after 30 days of therapy, significant decreases from baseline values were noted in ALT (27.2%), AST (31.3%), and GGT (31.8%). At the end of treatment, GGT levels (<15 U/L) in 59 patients and ALT and AST levels in 5 patients were within normal limits. The drug was well tolerated; only 3 (2.2%) patients experienced moderate diarrhea, which resolved promptly and spontaneously and did not require suspension of therapy. TUDCA is well tolerated and effective in significantly improving liver function test values in patients with chronic hepatitis C.