URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASE

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been shown to improve biochemical tests of cholestasis in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis. We studied the effect of UDCA in 11 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis in a placebo-controlled cross-over trial. After 4 weeks treatment with UDCA (15 mg/kg), a significant fall in bilirubin and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) levels occurred compared with placebo. A significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was also detected with UDCA therapy, which suggests that this drug may reduce ongoing hepatic damage in alcoholic liver disease despite continued alcohol abuse. Further trials of UDCA in alcoholic liver disease are clearly indicated.