BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether ursodeoxycholic acid therapy slows down the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis, according to two meta-analyses. However, the randomized trials evaluated had only a median of 24 months of follow-up. AIM: To evaluate long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: We evaluated 209 consecutive primary biliary cirrhosis patients, 69 compliant with ursodeoxycholic acid and 140 untreated [mean follow-up 5.79 (s.d. = 4.73) and 4.87 (s.d. = 5.21) years, respectively] with onset of all complications documented. Comparison was made following adjustment for baseline differences according to Cox modelling, Mayo and Royal Free prognostic models. RESULTS: Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase concentrations improved with ursodeoxycholic acid (at 36 months, P = 0.007 and 0.018, respectively). Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis showed benefit (P = 0.028), as 44 (31%) untreated and 15 (22%) ursodeoxycholic acid patients died or had liver transplantation. However, there was no difference when adjusted by Cox modelling (P = 0.267), Mayo (P = 0.698) and Royal Free models (P = 0.559). New pruritus or fatigue or other complications were not different, either before or after adjustment for baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy did not alter disease progression in primary biliary cirrhosis patients despite a significant improvement in serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase consistent with, and similar to, those seen in ursodeoxycholic acid cohorts in randomized trials.
BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether ursodeoxycholic acid therapy slows down the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis, according to two meta-analyses. However, the randomized trials evaluated had only a median of 24 months of follow-up. AIM: To evaluate long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: We evaluated 209 consecutive primary biliary cirrhosispatients, 69 compliant with ursodeoxycholic acid and 140 untreated [mean follow-up 5.79 (s.d. = 4.73) and 4.87 (s.d. = 5.21) years, respectively] with onset of all complications documented. Comparison was made following adjustment for baseline differences according to Cox modelling, Mayo and Royal Free prognostic models. RESULTS:Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase concentrations improved with ursodeoxycholic acid (at 36 months, P = 0.007 and 0.018, respectively). Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis showed benefit (P = 0.028), as 44 (31%) untreated and 15 (22%) ursodeoxycholic acidpatients died or had liver transplantation. However, there was no difference when adjusted by Cox modelling (P = 0.267), Mayo (P = 0.698) and Royal Free models (P = 0.559). New pruritus or fatigue or other complications were not different, either before or after adjustment for baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy did not alter disease progression in primary biliary cirrhosispatients despite a significant improvement in serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase consistent with, and similar to, those seen in ursodeoxycholic acid cohorts in randomized trials.
Authors: Jennifer Y Lee; Christopher J Danford; Hirsh D Trivedi; Elliot B Tapper; Vilas R Patwardhan; Alan Bonder Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2019-01-10 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: V Papastergiou; E A Tsochatzis; M Rodriguez-Peralvarez; M Rodriquez-Peralvarez; E Thalassinos; G Pieri; P Manousou; G Germani; C Rigamonti; V Arvaniti; S Karatapanis; A K Burroughs Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2013-10-05 Impact factor: 8.171