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Ursodeoxycholic acid vs. chenodeoxycholic acid as cholesterol gallstone‐dissolving agents: A comparative randomized study
Author(s) -
Roda Enrico,
Bazzoli Franco,
Labate Antonio M. Morselli,
Mazzella Giuseppe,
Roda Aldo,
Sama Claudia,
Festi Davide,
Aldini Rita,
Taroni Francesco,
Barbara Luigi
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840020611
Subject(s) - ursodeoxycholic acid , chenodeoxycholic acid , gallstones , medicine , gastroenterology , bile acid , diarrhea , cholesterol
Abstract Cholesterol gallstones are dissolved in man by chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). To test the comparative efficacy of these two cholelitholytic bile acids, 223 gallstone patients were randomly treated with either UDCA or CDCA at two different doses: 7 to 8 mg per kg per day and 14 to 15 mg per kg per day. Efficacy and factors influencing dissolution (dose, size of the stones, and time) were evaluated after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. UDCA was significantly more efficacious than was CDCA after 3 and 6 months of treatment, whereas after 12 months, no significant differences were observed. UDCA was equally effective at high and low doses, both on small and large stones. CDCA was significantly more effective at high doses and on small stones. Seventy‐four per cent of the total dissolutions with UDCA and 42% with CDCA occurred within the first 6 months of treatment. Diarrhea and hypertransaminasemia occurred only in the CDCA‐treated patients. We conclude that UDCA seems to be the bile acid of choice in dissolving cholesterol gallstones.