Treatment of prolonged cholestasis of acute hepatitis B with ursodeoxycholic acid

An elderly man was admitted for acute hepatitis B associated with severe pr uritus due to prolonged cholestasis that was unresponsive to antihistamine therapy. During the course of the disease, hypoalbuminemia and mild renal d isfunction developed. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) produced s ymptomatic relief of pruritus and was associated with rapid decrease of the bilirubin and transaminases levels. Such an experience with UDCA in acute viral hepatitis has been reported only once previously. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.