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Evidence summaries

Ursodeoxycholic Acid and/or Antibiotics for Prevention of Biliary Stent Occlusion

Ursodeoxycholic acid might possibly improve stent patency, but there is insufficient evidence because of sparse data. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 5 studies with a total of 258 subjects. Three unblinded trials (n=152) investigating a combination of UDCA and antibiotics versus no treatment did not show a significant treatment effect on the duration of stent patency (hazard ratio (random effects model) 0.58, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.54) or mortality (hazard ratio (fixed effect model) 0.99, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.43). Comment: The quality of evidence was downgraded by sparse data.

    References

    • Galandi D, Schwarzer G, Bassler D, Allgaier HP. Ursodeoxycholic acid and/or antibiotics for prevention of biliary stent occlusion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(3):CD003043. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords