Urso stopped and monitoring liver enzymes

[Grams2020]

5 years ago, I tested positive for AMA. Although he said a weak positive. My liver enzymes at that time were slightly raised. My gastroenterologist/hepatologist started me on 500 mg Urso. I had GI issues immediately and he suggested taking 500 mg every other day, which I have been doing since October 2024. My enzymes during that time have been normal. At times slightly raised. In October, he suggested to stop Urso and monitor my enzymes as I was on such a low dose, and my enzymes were normal for the most part. I just had my my recent blood tests after having stopped Urso 3 months ago, and they are normal. Therefore he will check them again in 3 months.

My question is has this happened to anyone? And if so, what happened long term? Did you ever begin Urso again and what damage, if any, did it do to your liver?

[DonnaBoll Administrator]

This is a hard decision, I'm sure. First of all, if the AMA is greater than 1:40, then it is positive. No need to repeat it. It is hard to say if you should start Urso again, given your enzymes are normal without it.

Two things - if an early stage of PBC is suspected most physicians agree you should be on Urso but continue monitoring liver enzymes every 3-6 months. Monitoring the enzymes is so important and taking Urso in the meantime does no harm.

If you have PBC and aren't taking Urso to maintain the bile ducts remaining open so the liver can do its job, then you run the risk of the disease beginning to progress.

[Grams2020 in reply to DonnaBoll]

Thanks Donna for your insight. My AMA was 1:20. But the lab flagged it as high. I agree it’s a difficult decision and Urso usually isn’t harmful but in my case , I developed GI issues every time I increased dosage to every day.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to Grams2020]

Maybe just continue to regularly do liver enzymes to monitor them closely. Maybe even take 1 Urso at night every few days at first.. just as suggestion. Just hate for you not to be taking any.

[Grams2020]

Thanks Donna. I am having enzymes monitored every 3 months.