Mechanism of hepatoprotective action of bile salts in liver disease

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improves liver enzymes and in many instances li ver histology in cholestatic liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhos is and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Besides classic cholestatic diseases , UDCA also improves liver biochemistry in alcoholic Liver disease and in c hronic viral hepatitis C. The main target of UDCA treatment, however, is ch olestasis, and consequently the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial e ffects in these diseases are ol: interest, and are discussed in detail in t his article.