ISSN:
1365-2036
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Combined medical treatment may provide further benefit to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients administered ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Aim:To evaluate the long-term effects of colchicine and UDCA in symptomatic PBC patients.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Patients/methods:We extended up to 10 years the double-blind treatment of 44 symptomatic PBC patients originally included in a 3-year multicentre study comparing UDCA and colchicine (U + C) versus UDCA and placebo (U + P). Outcome measures were death or liver transplantation; incidence of clinically relevant events; clinical and quantitative variables retaining prognostic information.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉Results:Mean follow-up was 7 ± 3 years. One patient was lost, three withdrew because of jaundice (U + P); two patients stopped colchicine but remained on UDCA. Eleven patients (two for liver-unrelated reasons, U + P) and six patients (U + C) died, three and two patients, respectively, were transplanted (incidence rate difference, five cases per 100 patient-years; 95% CI, −1 to 11). Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in one (U + P) and four (U + C) patients (difference, −2; CI, −5 to 1), portal hypertension complications in nine patients from each group (difference, 1; CI, −5 to 6). Trends of serum bilirubin, Mayo score, antipyrine clearance were similar among treatment groups.〈section xml:id="abs1-5"〉〈title type="main"〉Conclusions:In cirrhotic PBC patients, colchicine does not offer additional benefits to UDCA. In this population, UDCA does not obviate disease progression.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.01018.x
Permalink