In the subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis  , ursodeoxycholic acid  reduced total cholesterol ( WMD : − 29.86 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -47.39 , − 12.33 , p = 0.001 ) and LDL-C ( WMD : -37.27 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -54.16 , − 20.38 , p < 0.001 ) concentrations without affecting TG and HDL-C. Conclusion This meta- analysis suggests that ursodeoxycholic acid therapy might be associated with significant total cholesterol lowering particularly in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Objective The aim of this meta- analysis of r and omized placebo-controlled trials was to examine whether ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is an effective lipid-lowering agent .
Ursodeoxycholic acid for symptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis. Preliminary analysis of a double-blind multicenter trial. Italian Multicenter Group for the Study of UDCA in PBC.
The administration of ursodeoxycholic acid , a hydrophilic bile acid not hepatotoxic to humans , has been suggested for treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis to improve cholestasis and reduce hepatocellular damage . Efficacy of treatment has been studied mainly in patients with asymptomatic or early-stage disease . In January 1988 , to establish the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid in a population with more severe disease , we started a multicenter , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in patients with symptomatic disease , that is , with pruritus or serum bilirubin exceeding 2 mg/dl . Forty-four patients were assigned to ursodeoxycholic acid , 500 mg daily ( corresponding to about 8.7 mg/kg body weight in these patients ) , and 44 to a placebo . As planned at the beginning of the study , a preliminary analysis was performed when all patients had been followed for at least 6 months ( 33 patients up to 12 months ) . Pruritus , self-evaluated by the patients , and cholestyramine consumption , as recorded in a diary , decreased significantly ( p < 0.01 ) in both groups . In patients who initially had abnormal levels , serum bilirubin decreased significantly ( p < 0.05 ) in the ursodeoxycholic acid group compared to placebo . After 6 months the following were also significantly better in the ursodeoxycholic acid than in the placebo group : a composite weighted biochemical index taking into account the changes in serum bilirubin , alkaline phosphatase , gamma-GT and AST ( p < 0.001 ) ; serum prealbumin ( p < 0.05 ) ; IgG ( p < 0.01 ) and IgM ( p < 0.01 ) levels . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
In the subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis  , ursodeoxycholic acid  reduced total cholesterol ( WMD : − 29.86 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -47.39 , − 12.33 , p = 0.001 ) and LDL-C ( WMD : -37.27 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -54.16 , − 20.38 , p < 0.001 ) concentrations without affecting TG and HDL-C. Conclusion This meta- analysis suggests that ursodeoxycholic acid therapy might be associated with significant total cholesterol lowering particularly in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Objective The aim of this meta- analysis of r and omized placebo-controlled trials was to examine whether ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is an effective lipid-lowering agent .