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Ursodeoxycholic acid for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Results of a randomized trial
Author(s) -
Lindor Keith D.,
Kowdley Kris V.,
Heathcote E. Jenny,
Harrison M. Edwyn,
Jorgensen Roberta,
Angulo Paul,
Lymp James F.,
Burgart Lawrence,
Colin Patrick
Publication year - 2004
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.20092
Subject(s) - ursodeoxycholic acid , medicine , placebo , nonalcoholic steatohepatitis , gastroenterology , liver biopsy , steatosis , steatohepatitis , randomized controlled trial , fatty liver , biopsy , pathology , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , alternative medicine , disease
No effective medical therapy is available for all patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been suggested to be of benefit based on open label clinical studies. We randomized 166 patients with liver biopsy–proven NASH to receive between 13 and 15 mg/kg/d of UDCA or placebo for 2 years. End points included changes in liver test results and liver histology at 2 years of therapy. The treatment groups were comparable at entry with regard to age, gender, risk factors for NASH, serum liver biochemistries, and baseline liver histology. A total of 126 patients completed 2 years of therapy. Pre‐ and posttreatment liver biopsies were available in 107 patients for review at the end of the study. UDCA was well tolerated and body weight was stable during the study duration. Serum liver biochemistries were stable or improved in both the UDCA and placebo‐treated groups. Changes in the degree of steatosis, necroinflammation, or fibrosis that occurred with therapy were not significantly different between the UDCA and placebo groups. In conclusion, 2 years of therapy with UDCA at a dose of 13 to 15 mg/kg/d, although safe and well tolerated, is not better than placebo for patients with NASH. (H EPATOLOGY 2004;39:770–778.)