TY - JOUR
T1 - Ursodeoxycholic and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acids for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis
T2 - A pilot crossover study
AU - Larghi, A.
AU - Crosignani, A.
AU - Battezzati, P. M.
AU - De Valle, G.
AU - Allocca, M.
AU - Invernizzi, P.
AU - Zuin, M.
AU - Podda, M.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Background: Results from animal studies and preliminary data from pilot studies in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis suggest that tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid has metabolic properties that may favour its long-term use as an alternative to ursodeoxycholic acid for patients with chronic cholestatic liver diseases. No direct comparison of tauro-ursodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids have yet been carried out in primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods: The effects of ursodeoxycholic and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acids were compared in 23 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis according to a crossover design. Both drugs were administered at the daily dose of 500 mg, in a randomly assigned sequence for two 6-month periods separated by a 3-month wash-out period. Results: Serum liver enzymes related to cholestasis and cytolysis consistently improved, as compared to baseline values, during the administration of both ursodeoxycholic and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acids, but no significant difference between these two bile acids was found. Both treatments were well tolerated and no patient complained of side effects. Conclusion: In the short-term, tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid appears to be safe and at least as effective as ursodeoxycholic acid for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.
AB - Background: Results from animal studies and preliminary data from pilot studies in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis suggest that tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid has metabolic properties that may favour its long-term use as an alternative to ursodeoxycholic acid for patients with chronic cholestatic liver diseases. No direct comparison of tauro-ursodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids have yet been carried out in primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods: The effects of ursodeoxycholic and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acids were compared in 23 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis according to a crossover design. Both drugs were administered at the daily dose of 500 mg, in a randomly assigned sequence for two 6-month periods separated by a 3-month wash-out period. Results: Serum liver enzymes related to cholestasis and cytolysis consistently improved, as compared to baseline values, during the administration of both ursodeoxycholic and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acids, but no significant difference between these two bile acids was found. Both treatments were well tolerated and no patient complained of side effects. Conclusion: In the short-term, tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid appears to be safe and at least as effective as ursodeoxycholic acid for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 9146783
AN - SCOPUS:0030895443
VL - 11
SP - 409
EP - 414
JO - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
JF - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
SN - 0269-2813
IS - 2
ER -