The impact of ursodeoxycholic acid on cancer, dysplasia and mortality in ulcerative colitis patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer in primary sclerosing cholangitis patients with ulcerative colitis is mostly right-sided where concentrations of carcinogenic secondary bile acids are highest. AIM: To investigate whether ursodeoxycholic acid could be chemopreventive for colorectal cancer. METHODS: A historical cohort study was performed on primary sclerosing cholangitis patients with ulcerative colitis where the 28 patients (cases) who were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid for at least 6 months (mean 3.4 +/- 2.7 years) were compared with the 92 patients (controls) who were not treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. The primary outcomes were colorectal cancer and dysplasia. The secondary outcome was overall mortality. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of dysplasia or cancer was not significantly different between cases and controls (P = 0.17 by log-rank test). The adjusted relative risk for cases of developing dysplasia or cancer was 0.59 (95% CI 0.26-1.36). The cumulative mortality was significantly different between groups (P = 0.02 by log-rank test). The adjusted relative risk for cases of death was 0.44 (95% CI 0.22-0.90). CONCLUSION: In ulcerative colitis patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, ursodeoxycholic acid did not reduce the risk of developing cancer or dysplasia. However, ursodeoxycholic acid may reduce mortality.