Original ArticleUrsodeoxycholic acid treatment is associated with improvement of liver stiffness in cystic fibrosis patients

BackgroundUrsodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) might prevent progression of cystic fibrosis liver disease, but objective parameters for its effect are lacking.MethodsWe used liver stiffness measurements to evaluate the effect of Ursodeoxycholic acid.ResultsPaired measurements of liver stiffness were done in 73 patients without UDCA and in 32 patients with UDCA. In the latter group, 6 patients had cirrhosis; in 15 patients, UDCA was started based on Colombo criteria, and in 11 patients for other reasons. In patients without UDCA, liver stiffness increased: 0.19 (− 0.03 to 0.59) kPa/year. Liver stiffness also increased in patients with cirrhosis: 4.6 (0.67-12.4) kPa/year. In patients who had UDCA based on Colombo criteria, a decrease of liver stiffness was observed: 0.70 (− 1.6 to 0.55) kPa/year (P = 0.01). In patients on UDCA for other reasons, liver stiffness increased: 0.23 (− 0.20 to 0.51) kPa/year.ConclusionUDCA reduced liver stiffness in patients with well-defined, mild liver disease.