urso forte

Hi, kiml.

URSO Forte is a trademark name for ursodiol. According to the manufacturer, it's generally used to treat a condition called Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.  But, it's used in other circumstances, as well.  From the URSO Forte patient information page: "Ursodiol is a naturally occurring bile acid. Bile acids are made in the liver and flow down the bile ducts to the intestine where they are needed to help digest the fats in the food we eat."

I don't remember if Mark was given ursodiol before, but he was on it for several months after his transplant. 

If there is blockage in the bile ducts, or the liver isn't able to make enough ursodiol, this will help.  Mark could actually feel when there were problems in his bile ducts. He would get pain, then at some point there would be a little 'pop' sensation and he could feel things start to flow again.

I don't know about it regulating liver functions. But it will definitely help if you have any bile-related problems and may well resolve some of your pain.

Good luck and God bless.

HI Dj,

Back in June when i was not feeling good. I had a bunch of tests done. I had a hida scan & everything came back normal. I know that shows something with the ducts. Also, I spoke with the nurse, & by bloodwork came back, My ANA came back positive, which has to do with autoimmune, the SMA came back negative. Everything else was just about normal but the Alkaline Phosphate came back doubled. I think that has to do with scarring. The nurse also said the only way to tell for sure whats going on is to have a biopsy, which I will probably do in the nezt few months.

I am really scared though. Its almost like I do not want to know. When I had the biopsy 4 years ago, it said I was in Stage 2, which the nurse said it was like"the middle of the road". This problem was discovered about 13 years ago & for the most part, I really have had zero symptoms & I am never really sick. Do you know how long it takes to get to each Stage. Could it be possible, that I have had this my entire life. MY question is if I dont have AIH, whay else could be wrong? She also recommended that I be vaccinated for Hepatitis A & B.

I go back next week to meet with the Nurse again to go over everything & the Doctor is going to pop in. I cant wait to see what she has to say. I gueess I am just so scared of taking any steroids. Its my biggest fear.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!

Kim L.

Good morning, Kim

To answer your question (as best I can), the progress from stage to stage in liver disease is really, really variable.  There are 6 stages in cirrhosis, with stage 2 being more (to my mind) an early stage; but I don't know about AIH.

If a person does all the 'right things' - no alcohol, proper diet, exercise, etc. - it can help slow the progress of liver disease.  Depending on the cause, medications are often (as you know) an important part of the 'right thing.'

Of course, anything that makes the liver work harder will make things worse. That's the most frustrating thing about liver diseases, they are just so unpredictable.  Given half a chance, the liver will try to repair itself.  So, we just have to help it do that as much as we can.

You definitely want to be vaccinated against HepA and HepB.  If your liver is 'unhappy,' contracting hepatitis can make you very ill, very quickly.  When Mark got sicker and started getting aggressive medical care in December 2003, the first thing the doctor did was vaccinate him against flu, pneumonia, HAV, and HBV.  He already had ESLD at that point and the flu would have, literally, killed him.

As for alkaline phosphatase, that is an enzyme that is elevated when bones are growing, liver cells are damaged, or there is blockage in the bile ducts.  That's probably why your doctor suggested URSO Forte (ursodiol).

I would definitely ask your doctor these questions, too.  She'll have much more information and can help ease some of your fears.  Corticosteroids aren't exactly the most 'fun' meds you'll ever take, but if they help, then that's what is good.

God Bless.  Let us know how you're doing.