URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF LIVER-DISEASES

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a dihydroxy bile acid with a rapidly expanding spectrum of usage in acute and chronic liver diseases. The various me chanisms of action of this hydrophilic bile acid include direct cytopr otection, detergent action on dysfunctional microtubules, immunomodula tion and induction of hypercholeresis. Its efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis as an adjunct to medical therapy has been well established. Newer indications include its use in the management of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, post liver transpla nt rejection, graft-versus-host disease and acute viral hepatitis, whe re it not only relieves symptoms of cholestasis but also arrests ongoi ng hepatocyte necrosis.