Short-term ursodeoxycholic acid treatment improves gallbladder bile turnover in gallstone patients: a randomized trial

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prevents invitro gallbladder (GB) muscle damage caused by acutecholecystitis and reduces risk of biliary pain andcomplications in gallstone (GS) patients. These effectscould be partially explained by the improved GB bileturnover.Objectives: To assess the effect of short-term UDCAtreatment on GB motility and bile turnover.Methods: Ultrasonographic (US) assessment of GBvolumes was performed in 16 GS patients, in thepostprandial phase, for 90 min with a time samplingof 1 min, before and after 30 days of UDCA(10 mg kg)1 die)1) or placebo, randomly assigned. USdata were analysed with statistical tools and withcomputer fluido-dynamic (CFD) software FluentTM tosimulate GB bile flow.Results: After therapy, fasting volume (FV) increasedfrom 21.6 ± 9 to 28.2 ± 12 mL (p < 0.001) while theejection fraction (EF) remained unchanged(44.5 ± 17% vs 45.1 ± 20%; p: ns). Volumes before andafter treatment were poorly correlated (0.02 < r <0.35), unlike those in placebo patients (r > 0.6).The average GB volume was increased in 7 out of 10patients following UDCA (range 7–67%). CFD analysissupports the finding of improved bile flow aftertreatment.