A novel treatment for refractory primary biliary cirrhosis?
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| Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Bezafibrate is naturally used for hyperlipidemia worldwide. In 1992 Day et al reported that the value of ALP and gamma-GTP in hyperlipidemia declined after administering bezafibrate orally. We conducted a study to investigate whether or not ALP and gamma-GTP in primary biliary cirrhosis which is characterized by the elevation of these enzymes improved after taking bezafibrate. METHODOLOGY: We administered bezafibrate additionally for 6 months to 13 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (refractory PBC) whose liver enzymes (ALP or gamma-GTP) did not remain within normal range out of 21 patients treated by monotherapy of ursodeoxycholic acid for 18 months. RESULTS: At 2, 4, and 6 months, gamma-GTP level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation of bezafibrate. At 4 and 6 months, ALP level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation. At 2, 4 and 6 months, ALT level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation. The value of IgG and IgM was also reduced significantly 6 months after the initiation. CONCLUSIONS: If the effectiveness of bezafibrate for primary biliary cirrhosis is confirmed histologically and by a randomized trial, a combination therapy of bezafibrate and ursodeoxycholic acid appear to be the medical treatment of choice for primary biliary cirrhosis in the future.
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| Authors | S Miyaguchi, H Ebinuma, H Imaeda, Y Nitta, T Watanabe, H Saito, H Ishii |
| Journal | Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2000 Nov-Dec Vol. 47 Issue 36 Pg. 1518-21 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece |
| PMID | 11148991 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article) |
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