Abstract
A 64-year-old woman with a histologically proven PBC stage I was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, 600mg/day, for about 30 months. The levels of serum ALP and γ-GTP decreased significantly within 1 year of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment as well as the level of serum bilirubin. However, the level of serum IgM, known as a humoral immunological marker, did not change during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. The changes of concentration of serum bile acids composition were observed during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, whereas total bile acids in serum did not change. The absolute and relative concentration of serum chenodeoxycholic acid decreased during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, although the relative concentration of serum ursodeoxycholic acid increased. In the follow up liver biopsy after ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for about 30 months, the histological improvement was observed in relation to the small cell infiltration and fibrosis in portal area. It was concluded that the long-term ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for PBC was safe and effective.
