Statins and ursodeoxycholic acid: cooperation or neutrality?

Results of combined therapy of gallstone disease (GSD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hypercholesterolemia (HCE) with statins and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are analyzed. In GSD statin therapy was often accompanied with reduction of bile lithogenicity but did not always accelerate stone litholysis under their combination with UDCA. Statin induced liver injuries are often observed in NAFLD and NASH, adjuvant UDCA therapy shown positive effect on inflammatory and histological liver parameters in these diseases. Serum lipid levels in patients with HCE were reduced most effectively with statin combined with UDCA. Combined therapy with statin and UDCA is recommended in patient with HCE and chronic liver diseases.