Budesonide combined with ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis with advanced liver damage

Pagán, B.; Erdozain, J.C.; Comas, C.; Martín-Chávarri, S.; López, M.; Gómez-Cerezo, J.F.

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2006.04.006

« Previous Next »European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 7 , Pages 508-510, November 2006

Budesonide combined with ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis with advanced liver damage

B. Pagán
- Medicine Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain
- Corresponding author. La Paz University Hospital, Internal Medicine Department, P° Castellana 261, E-280046 Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 649 48 46 91.
J.C. Erdozain
- Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain
C. Comas
- Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain
S. Martín-Chávarri
- Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain
M. López
- Medicine Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain
J.F. Gómez-Cerezo
- Medicine Department, University Hospital La Paz, P° Castellana 261, 280046, Madrid, Spain

Received 2 November 2005; received in revised form 3 April 2006; accepted 27 April 2006.

Abstract

We describe two patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who rapidly suffered progressive liver failure and developed jaundice, despite having undergone correct therapy using ursodeoxycholic acid. Both cases showed an extraordinary clinical and biochemical response 2 months after budesonide was added to standard therapy, leading to recovery of normal liver function.

Keywords: Primary biliary cirrhosis, Liver failure, Budesonide, Jaundice, Combination therapy