A combination of phototherapy and cholestyramine for the relief of pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis.

A patient with primary biliary cirrhosis is reported in whom UV phototherapy alone was repeatedly effective in controlling severe pruritus. Symptomatic relief was sustained by introducing cholestyramine at a low dosage, despite previous failure of the drug alone to produce any therapeutic benefit, even in large doses. Bile acid concentrations were measured in sera, urine and suction blister fluid from skin exposed to ultraviolet light before, during and following treatment. The findings suggest that phototherapy reduces cutaneous bile acid levels which can subsequently be maintained by low dose cholestyramine. Routine liver function tests remained unaltered. This combination of phototherapy and cholestyramine may be useful in controlling severe pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis when the drug alone is not tolerated or is ineffective.