Ursodiol and risk of cholangiocarcinoma

[Guest guest]

Dear All;

This is in important study that may help put to rest the question of

whether or not ursodeoxycholic acid is beneficial for PSC patients:

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun;19(6):487-91.

The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in primary sclerosing cholangitis

after long-time treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid.

Rudolph G, Kloeters-Plachky P, Rost D, Stiehl A.

Department of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, FRG.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cholangiocarcinoma represents a serious complication

of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Ursodeoxycholic acid may possibly

influence the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in man. The aim of this

study was to evaluate the incidence rate of cholangiocarcinoma in a

large group of primary sclerosing cholangitis patients after long-

time treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From

May 1987 up to May 2005 a total of 150 patients with primary

sclerosing cholangitis but without evidence of cholangiocarcinoma at

entry were included in the study. All patients were treated with

ursodeoxycholic acid and controls were performed in at least yearly

intervals. RESULTS: The median treatment time of the 150 patients was

6.4 years. Altogether five patients developed a cholangiocarcinoma

during treatment yielding a rate of 3.3%. The patients developed 0.58

cholangiocarcinoma per 100 patient-years in years 0-2.5, 0.59

cholangiocarcinoma in years 2.5-8.5, and no cholangiocarcinoma

thereafter up to 18 years after entry into the study. The Kaplan-

Meier estimate of cholangiocarcinoma incidence during ursodeoxycholic

acid treatment reached a plateau after 8.3 years. SUMMARY AND

CONCLUSION: The annual incidence rate of cholangiocarcinoma in

primary sclerosing cholangitis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid is

lower than expected and decreases with time of treatment. PMID:

17489059.

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (21); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)