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High-Dose Ursodeoxycholic Acid Not Effective for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis ROCHESTER, Minn -- August 28, 2009 -- High-dose ursodeoxycholic aid (UDCA) does not appear effective for the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), according to a study published in the August issue of the journal Hepatology. "Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a serious liver disease lacking an effective medical therapy," said lead author Keith Lindor, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. "Some studies have shown that the use of ursodeoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring bile acid, may be a potential solution for patients. Our research, however, showed long-term use of this treatment in high dosages is not suitable for patients." In the 6-year, multicentre trial, 67 patients were treated with high doses of ursodeoxycholic aid (28-30 mg/kg/day) and 74 patients were given a placebo. Serious adverse events were more common in the UDCA group than the placebo group, which prompted researchers to halt the study. "All of us were surprised that the higher doses of UDCA did not help; in fact, the risk of developing even more liver problems increased with the higher dosages," said Dr. Lindor. "While this was thought to be the best potential treatment for PSC, our study found that not to be the case." Dr. Lindor said that patients who are currently on higher doses of UDCA should consult with their doctors. He also pointed out that the study findings highlight the need for more research to look into better treatment options for PSC. SOURCE: Mayo Clinic E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version