[Taurodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. A controlled study in comparison to ursodeoxycholic acid].

Thirty patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were enrolled; 25 completed the study period (6 months). Of these, 12 were randomised to TUDCA treatment and 13 to UDCA. Dosage range 12-15 mg/kg daily for both groups which were comparable at to age, sex, duration and stage of the disease, as well as for all liver laboratory tests. Altogether, the results obtained were satisfactory in both groups. What was surprising was that clinical experience failed to confirm the greater efficacy of TUDCA compared to UDCA. On the contrary, UDCA appeared to be more effective than TUDCA in improving liver function (even significantly so as far as GGT was concerned). Also with regard to tolerability, UDCA was definitely superior to TUDCA.