Ursodeoxycholic acid

Ursodeoxycholic acid is a secondary bile acid. Pharmacologically, ursodeoxycholic acid is administered as a hepatoprotectant, for example, in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, drug-induced liver damage, primary sclerosing cholnangitis, cholestasis in pregnancy or cystic fibrosis liver disorders.

According to a number of meta-analyzes, the clinical effect of ursodeoxycholic acid is at least questionable:
 * A meta-analysis studying the effect of therapy on primary biliary cirrhosis did not find a demonstrable effect on mortality, need for liver transplants, pruritus or fatigue. The effect on liver biochemical parameters and liver histological findings was captured, but all analyzed studies showed a high risk of skewing the results due to accidental or systematic deviation of the results.
 * A meta-analysis studying the effect of therapy on liver disorders in cystic fibrosis did not find enough results on the basis of which it would be possible to recommend this therapy in clinical practice.
 * A meta-analysis studying the effect of therapy on alcoholic steatosis did not show a significant effect.
 * A meta-analysis of therapy of primary sclerosing cholangitis has not shown a significant effect on disease progression.