Management of primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune cholangitis.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Several drugs have been evaluated in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis over a number of years. These drugs have immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory, cupruretic, antifibrotic and bile acid properties. Ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to improve survival free of transplantation in a conclusive fashion. This drug is the single agent that can be recommended for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. Corticosteroid therapy and ursodeoxycholic acid have been evaluated in a few patients with autoimmune cholangitis. This article reviews a large number of studies that have been published assessing different drugs in the treatment of these two entities, particularly in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.
PMID: 15560036 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]