FAILURE OF URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID TO PREVENT ACUTE CELLULAR REJECTION AFTER LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Background/Aims: Acute rejection is still a major problem after liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid has beneficial effects in choles tasis by reducing the expression of major histocompatibility complex a ntigens. Methods: We have performed a double-blind randomised study co mparing ursodeoxycholic acid with placebo for the prevention of acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation. Twenty-six patients re ceived ursodeoxycholic acid 600 mg per day and 24 patients received pl acebo for 2 months. Results: Neither rejection incidence nor rejection severity was significantly different in the two groups (p >0.90). Con clusions: We conclude that adjuvant ursodeoxycholic acid administratio n does not prevent rejection after liver transplantation.