Dissolution of gall stones with an ursodeoxycholic acid menthol preparation: a controlled prospective double blind trial

Gut. 1988 Apr;29(4):428-32. doi: 10.1136/gut.29.4.428.

Abstract

In a controlled prospective double blind trial patients with cholesterol gall bladder stones are treated with ursodeoxy-cholic acid (group A: UDCA 11.1 mg/kg per day; n = 16) and Ursomenth respectively (group B: a mixture of UDCA/menthol: 4.75 mg/kg per day each; n = 17). With same stone number and size (10-12 mm) there is a complete dissolution rate in group A of 38%, and of 53% in group B within 15-16.9 months. The response rate (complete + partial dissolution) amounted to 75% and 76% respectively. In group A there is one case of stone calcification, in group B none. Both preparations are free of unwanted effects. This suggests that the cyclic monoterpene menthol enhances the effect of UDCA and is of comparable effect to a mixture of six different terpenes used in former times.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cholelithiasis / pathology
  • Cholelithiasis / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Deoxycholic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Menthol / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Deoxycholic Acid
  • Ursometh
  • Menthol
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid