[Drug therapy of cholestatic hepatopathies].

Ursodeoxycholic acid is suitable for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis in a dosage of 10 mg/kg bodyweight per day. In primary biliary cirrhosis not only laboratory parameters but the histological picture as well are markedly improved. Best results are obtained in the early stages of the disease (stage I, II), but there is an improvement in the late stages (stage III, IV) too. A long-term follow-up has shown that bile salt therapy is possible without any side effects and with excellent results during a period of 10 years. Excellent results have been obtained in newborns with primary bile duct atresia and in patients with cystic fibrosis.