TREATMENT OF VIRUS-ASSOCIATED LIVER-CIRRHOSIS WITH TAUROURSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID - EVALUATION OF CYTOLYSIS AND CHOLESTASIS INDEXES AND SELECTED IMMUNOLOGICAL VARIABLES

Thirty patients with compensated virus-associated (hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus) liver cirrhosis were treated with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) at the dose of 250 mg twice daily. After 6 months of treatment, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels were decreased by 56%, 61%, and 69%, respectively (P < 0.001). Most interesting, however, was the 13% reduction in gamma globulin levels (0.001 < P < 0.01). These results point to an immunomodulating action of TUDCA which, in conjunction with its ability to reduce the value of the cytolysis and cholestasis indexes, provides good evidence for a therapeutic role of this agent in the management of virus-associated liver cirrhosis.