ursodeoxycholic acid can improve liver transaminase quantities in children with anticonvulsant drugs hepatotoxicity: a pilot study.

the present study has been directed to investigate ursodeoxycholic acid (udca) effect in children, to reduce the high liver transaminases induced by anticonvulsant drugs (drug induced hepatitis). this idea has been driven from cytoprotective and antioxidant properties of udca to be used in drug induced inflammation in liver. twenty two epileptic patients aged between 4 mo - 3 yr whom were under anticonvulsant therapy with drugs such as valperoic acid, primidone, levetiracetam, phenobarbital or any combination of them and had shown liver transaminases rise , after rule out of viral-autoimmune, metabolic and anatomic causes, have been prescribed udca in dose of 10-15 mg/kg/day, at least for 6 months. any patient who have shown confusing factors such as genetic disorders with liver involvement or spontaneous decline in enzymes or had not treatment compliance has been excluded from the study. transaminases range changes as well as probable side effects of the drug have been monitored. the results indicated that udca is effective and well tolerable in the children with drug induced hyper transaminasemia. no side effect has been seen and recorded in this study. based on this study and its results, we recommend udca as a safe and effective choice in drug induced hepatotoxicities.