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The canadian multicenter double‐blind randomized controlled trial of ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Heathcote E. Jenny,
CauchDudek Karen,
Walker Valery,
Bailey Robert J.,
Blendis Laurence M.,
Ghent Cameron N.,
Michieletti Pina,
Minuk Gerald Y.,
Pappas S. Chris,
Scully Linda J.,
Steinbrecher Urs P.,
Sutherland Lloyd R.,
Williams C. Noel,
WittSullivan Helga,
Worobetz Lawrence J.,
Milner Ruth A.,
Wanless Ian R.
Publication year - 1994
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.1840190512
Subject(s) - ursodeoxycholic acid , primary biliary cirrhosis , gastroenterology , medicine , cholestasis , bile acid , hepatology , liver biopsy , biliary cirrhosis , placebo , bilirubin , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , biopsy , transplantation , pathology , alternative medicine , disease , autoimmune disease
Ursodeoxycholic acid, a dihydroxyl bile acid normally present in human beings in minimal amounts, becomes incorporated into the bile salt pool when taken orally. In cholestasis, bile acids are retained in the liver and are hepatotoxic. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the least‐known hepatotoxic bile acid, has choleretic properties and is reported to benefit patients with chronic cholestasis. In a nationwide Canadian controlled trial, 222 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (14 mg/kg/body wt/day) or placebo for 24 mo. Only patients with a diagnosis confirmed by liver biopsy and serum positive for antimitochondrial antibodies were enrolled; 88% were symptomatic on entry. The primary outcome measure was percent change in total serum bilirubin from baseline to final follow‐up. Treated patients (111) and controls (111) were comparable with regard to age, gender, biochemical parameters and liver histological condition. Although treatment was not associated with any improvement in symptoms, ursodeoxycholic acid therapy caused the bilirubin to fall significantly within the first 3 mo of therapy (p<0.001). Significant falls in serum alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases, cholesterol and IgM levels were also noted in the treated group. Improvement in some histological features was observed but there was no difference between the groups in the number of patients who reached the endpoints of death or liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid, given to patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, leads to an improvement in serum markers of cholestasis. A larger sample size is needed to determine whether ursodeoxycholic acid therapy has a beneficial effect on the survival of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. (H EPATOLOGY 1994;19:1149–1156.)