The benign course of liver disease in adults with cystic fibrosis and the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid

Background and Aims: The life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been increasing and the associated liver disease has emerged as a significant medical issue. Our aim was to describe the clinical features, course and effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on liver disease in an adult CF population. Study: From 1983 to 2005, 278 patients with CF were followed up at the Alfred Hospital, an adult tertiary referral centre. Twenty‐seven patients (9.7%) satisfied the criteria for liver disease and their clinico‐pathological features were assessed. The effect of UDCA on hepatobiliary symptoms and biochemical parameters was determined. Results: The mean age at liver disease diagnosis was 23 years (range 8–47 years). Portal hypertension was present in 18 (67%) patients. During a median follow‐up of 7 years (range 1.5–15), variceal haemorrhage occurred in two patients and ascites in three (one spontaneously). Nine (33%) patients died and five (19%) underwent lung transplantation. There was no encephalopathy, liver transplantation or liver‐related deaths. UDCA was taken by 22 patients and was associated with a significant improvement in hepatobiliary symptoms [11/22 (50%) in the pre‐UDCA period vs 1/22 (4%) in the post‐UDCA period; P=0.0003] and a significant reduction in aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.005); alanine aminotransferase (P