ABSTRACT
AIM: to estimate the efficiency of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDHC) in nonalcocholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by analysis of conventional clinical datas, apoptosis and liver perfusion parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: UDHC was used as monotherapy in treatment of 92 NASH patients in daily dose 10-15 mg/kg. We have observed 44 (47.8%) males, 48 (52.2%) females, age was 56.8 ± 7.2 years, BMI was 28.4 ± 2.3 kg/m2, waist circumference was 93.8 ± 8.3 cm. Functional liver tests (ALAT, ASAT, alcaline phosphatase--APh, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase--GGTP), abdominal ultrasonography and dopplerography of liver blood flow, kaspase-3, 6, 8, 9 genes expression in blood leucocytes were estimated. Periods of controls research and UDCA treatment were: 4-8 weeks in 92 patients, 20-24 weeks in 18 (19.6%) patients and 40-48 weeks in 13 (14.1%) patients. RESULTS: Significant positive dynamics of liver functional tests and decrease of kaspase-3, 6, 9 genes expression in blood leucocytes were observed over 4-8 weeks, normalization of liver tests--over 20-24 weeks and significant amelioration of venous and arterial liver perfusion parameters--over 40-48 weeks. CONCLUSION: Ursodeoxycholic acid in daily dose of 10-15 mg/kg in nonalcocholic steatohepatitis caused positive dynamics of cytolytic and cholestasis parameters, leucocytic apoptosis and venous and arterial liver blood flow parameters.