Berberine Ursodeoxycholate for the Treatment of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: The Search for the Elusive Pharmacologic Holy Grail Will Need to Continue.

Abstract

Effective pharmacologic treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remains elusive. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is known to improve liver biochemistry, specifically serum alkaline phosphatase, in patients with PSC but has not been shown to favourably alter the natural history. Similarly, many immunomodulatory medications have been studied for the treatment of PSC, but none has been demonstrated to be of unequivocal benefit. In this issue of the Journal, a pilot study of a ursodeoxycholate berberine salt vs placebo is reported. Although improvement in serum alkaline phosphatase is reported, without a control arm with UDCA monotherapy, it is not possible to determine whether this study drug is beneficial over UDCA by itself. More study in the PSC therapeutic arena is needed.