• Xiao Feng Han, Qi Xia Wang, Yuan Liu, Zheng Rui You, Zhao Lian Bian, De Kai Qiu, and Xiong Ma.
• Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine Renji Hospital, China.
• J Dig Dis. 2012 Apr 1; 13 (4): 219-24.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of fenofibrate combination therapy in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who had a partial response to standard dose of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for at least one year.MethodsPBC patients were treated with UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) for more than one year. The biochemical response to UDCA treatment was evaluated after treatment. Fenofibrate (200 mg/day) was added to 22 patients with partial response to UDCA.ResultsIn patients with partial response to UDCA, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels significantly decreased after 3-month combination therapy of UDCA and fenofibrate, 68% of these patients even reached normal ALP level. Serum triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were improved, and alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were also decreased during the combination therapy. However, fenofibrate had no significant effect on serum bilirubin levels. The improvement of liver biochemical tests was maintained in some patients with long-term therapy (at least 6 months). No obvious adverse effects were observed in patients taking fenofibrate.ConclusionsFenofibrate is effective for improving liver biochemical tests in patients who have partial response to UDCA monotherapy. It is worth exploring the efficacy of fenofibrate on histological changes in PBC patients.© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2012 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

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