A dose-up of ursodeoxycholic acid decreases transaminases in hepatitis C patients

AIM:To examine whether a dose-up to 900 mg of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) decreases transaminases in hepatitis C patients.METHODS:From January to December 2007,patients with chronic hepatitis C or compensated liver cirrhosis with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (43-80 years old) showing positive serum HCV-RNA who had already taken 600 mg/d of UDCA were recruited into this study.Blood parameters were examined at 4,8 and 24 wk after increasing the dose of oral UDCA from 600 to 900 mg/d.RESULTS:Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were significantly decreased following the administration of 900 mg/d as compared to 600 mg/d.The decrease in ALT from immediately before the dose-up of UDCA to 8 wk after the dose-up was 14.3 IU/L,while that for AST was 10.5 IU/L and for GGT was 9.8 IU/L.Platelet count tended to increase after the dose-up of UDCA,although it did not show a statistically significant level (P=0.05).Minor adverse events were observed in 3 cases,although no drop-outs from the study occurred.CONCLUSION:Oral administration of 900 mg/d of UDCA was more effective than 600 mg/d for reducing ALT,AST,and GGT levels in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease.