[Effect of long-term ursodeoxycholic acid treatment on serum liver enzymes and serum bile acid metabolism in chronic hepatitis].

The effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment for more than one year on chronic hepatitis in regard to responder and non-responder and influence of UDCA administration on serum bile acid metabolism were studied. All of non-responders (16 patients) were hepatitis B or C patients, and seven of fifteen responders were negative for hepatitis B and C virus marker and could be considered autoimmune hepatitis. These patients got drastic improvement of liver function test, anti-nuclear antibody in five patients and anti-smooth muscle antibody in three patients were decreased. Although HAI scores for liver pathology before UDCA treatment were not different between responders and non-responders, the intralobular necrosis was improved in responders after UDCA treatment. Concerning serum bile acid analysis, total bile acid and UDCA concentration in responders were lower than non-responders. Percentage of iso-ursodeoxycholic acid in responders was significantly higher than non-responders. These results suggest the effectiveness of UDCA therapy on autoimmune hepatitis.