Ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of chronic liver disease.

Recent data have suggested that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is useful in the treatment of a variety of cholestatic and chronic liver diseases. Symptomatic and biochemical improvement have been observed in diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and cystic fibrosis, but data on histological improvement and survival are limited. The purpose of this article is to review the proposed mechanisms of action of UDCA and to critically evaluate the existing literature reporting a beneficial therapeutic effect of UDCA in the treatment of chronic liver disease.