Background/aims: Acute rejection is still a major problem after liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid has beneficial effects in cholestasis by reducing the expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens.
Methods: We have performed a double-blind randomised study comparing ursodeoxycholic acid with placebo for the prevention of acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation. Twenty-six patients received ursodeoxycholic acid 600 mg per day and 24 patients received placebo for 2 months.
Results: Neither rejection incidence nor rejection severity was significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.90).
Conclusions: We conclude that adjuvant ursodeoxycholic acid administration does not prevent rejection after liver transplantation.