EFFECTS OF URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID ON SERUM LIVER-ENZYMES IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-RELATED CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

Objective: To study the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on serum liver enzyme levels [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamy l transferase (CGT)] in 101 patients with hepatitis C virus-related ch ronic liver disease. Methods: Forty-nine patients were assigned to rec eive UDCA (450 mg/day) over a period of 6 months and 52 to receive no treatment. Results: In the UDCA group, serum ALT and GGT levels signif icantly improved. ALT values decreased from pre-treatment levels of 15 7.0+/-62.6 IU/l to 82.5+/-46.4 IU/l (P<0.05), and GGT fell from 141.3/-86.2 IU/l to 66.0+/-49.5 IU/l (P<0.001). No significant change occur red in the mean ALT and GGT levels in the control group. Conclusion: A lthough our encouraging preliminary results must be validated by doubl e-blind histological trials, UDCA may be an alternative treatment for patients who fail to respond to interferon therapy.