The combined application of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and probiotic complex ProbioLog may affect lithogenesis processes in the early stages of gallstone disease in elderly people

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in combination with ProbioLog at the early stage of gallstone disease in the elderly.Material and methods: 92 patients with early stage of cholelithiasis (CL) were examined, the average age was 66,69 ± 5,52 years, there were 29 men and 63 women. In addition to anamnestic and general clinical data, the results of ultrasound examination (US) of the gallbladder were used to verify the diagnosis. The biochemical properties of bile (cholesterol, bile acids, phospholipids levels, bile lithogenicity indices) were studied. The composition of the intestinal microflora was determined using a hydrogen breath test with lactulose and culture of feces for dysbiosis. Two groups were formed due to the course of treatment, which amounted to 30 days. 45 patients of the observation group received UDCA 15 mg / kg per day once for a night in combination with the probiotic ProbioLog (Mayoly Spindler, France), 1 сapsule twice per day. UDCA monotherapy of 15 mg / kg daily was administered to 47 patients of the comparison group once for the night.Results. After the course of treatment, a favorable dynamics of clinical symptoms of the disease was noted. According to US, elimination of biliary sludge was observed in 62.2% of patients of the observation group and in 14.8% of patients of the comparison group. An improvement in the biochemical composition of bile was manifested by decreasing of its lithogenic properties. The important results of therapy were positive changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora, contributing to the normalization of the exchange of bile acids, cholesterol and phospholipids.Conclusion. The combined using of UDCA and ProbioLog in elderly patients is clinically effective in the treatment of early stages of cholelithiasis and pathogenetically justified in the prevention of gallstone formation.