JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Steroid and ursodesoxycholic Acid combination therapy in severe drug-induced liver injury.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the leading cause of acute severe liver disease in Western countries. Treatment strategies for DILI are still not well defined.

AIM: We studied the safety and outcomes of steroid/ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) combination therapy in DILI patients.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 consecutive patients with severe DILI were analyzed for clinical, biochemical and histological data. Nine patients were treated with a steroid step-down therapy with reduction of the daily dose over several weeks; 6 patients received a steroid pulse therapy for 3 days. UDCA was administered for several weeks in both groups.

RESULTS: Patients without histological signs of preexistent liver damage (n = 10) showed the most favorable clinical course. Bilirubin and serum transaminases dropped to <50% of peak values within 2 weeks, and normalized within 4-8 weeks. In contrast, patients with positive autoimmune antibodies (anti-nuclear antibodies and/or soluble liver antigen) and/or histological features of chronic hepatitis (n = 3) exhibited a slower reduction in bilirubin and serum transaminase levels. These patients were given immunosuppressants (steroids, azathioprine) for a further 6 months.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of severe DILI with corticosteroids (both pulse and step-down therapy) and UDCA appears to be safe, and leads to a more rapid reduction in bilirubin and transaminases after DILI.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app