The effect of ursodesoxycholic acid on duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis: a prospective randomized placebo-control trial

Aim Duodenal adenomas occur in about 90% of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and are the second cause of death of patients who have had a prophylactic proctocolectomy. Studies suggest that biliary acids have a role in the development of duodenal adenomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) on duodenal adenoma formation in patients with FAP. Method A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was carried out of 71 patients (20–65 years) who already had a restorative proctocolectomy. Subjects received either 10 mg/kg of UDCA orally per day or a placebo tablet for 24 months. The Spigelman severity score was determined after duodenal axial and lateral view endoscopy at 12 and 24 months. Results At 2 years 55 patients had completed the entire period of treatment. At the end of the follow‐up period, nine (25%) patients in the UDCA group and seven (20%) in the placebo group had a decrease in the Spigelman score (P = 0.6142). Patients receiving UDCA had no side‐effects (0%) compared with four (14%) in the placebo group (P = 0.0392). Conclusion UDCA had no effect on the development of duodenal adenomas in FAP patients (NCT: 00134758).