Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Long Term Use of Cholestyramine in the Treatment of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

1965; Elsevier BV; Volume: 48; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0016-5085(65)80106-8

1528-0012

Fenton Schaffner, Franklin M. Klion, Anibal J. Latuff,

Liver Diseases and Immunity

Summary Four patients with primary biliary cirrhosis treated with cholestyramine from 18 to 42 months are presented. The agent promptly controlled the pruritus, the most distressing symptom, presumably by lowering serum bile acid levels. This led to improved nutrition, a sense of well being, and the resumption of normal activity. No adverse side effects were noted although peculiar calcifications became extensive in the biliary tree of 1 patient. Hypercholesterolemia was only transiently reduced, and no consistent change in the results of other hepatic tests or in serial needle biopsies of the liver were noted. Therapy with cholestyramine thus appears to have no effect on the basic pathological process, although it remains the most useful drug to date for symptomatic therapy of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.