Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment on essential fatty acid deficiency in patients with biliary atresia

Abstract

To assess whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment has any beneficial effect on essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in patients who have had a Kasai operation for extrahepatic atresia (EBA), responses of serum fatty acids to UDCA administration (15 mg/kg/d) were investigated in eight jaundice-free patients and in eight patients with jaundice (serum total bilirubin ≥ 1.0 mg/dL). All patients were also given taurine supplementation (100 mg/kg/d). Serum fatty acid composition was determined before and 6 months after UDCA treatment. Serum total bile acid concentration and serum total bilirubin value, as a part of conventional liver function tests, were measured before and during UDCA therapy. Before UDCA treatment, the concentrations of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were significantly lower ( P > .05 for the former; P > .01 for the latter) in both the jaundice and jaundice-free groups than in the controls. After 6 months of treatment, the linoleic acid concentration significantly increased ( P > .05), to the normal range, in the jaundice-free group, but not in the jaundice group. The arachidonic acid concentration did not increase significantly in either group. The serum total bile acid concentration was lower in six of the eight jaundice-free patients and in four of the eight jaundice patients. The serum total bilirubin value decreased in six of the eight jaundice-free patients and in four of the eight jaundice patients; however, the degree of improvement was not statistically significant in either group. No side effects developed, and there were no changes in blood chemistry values unrelated to liver disease. Results of the study indicate that UDCA therapy may be a significant benefit in the treatment of EFA deficiency associated with postoperative EBA, particularly for patients without jaundice.