UDCA & METHOTREXATE FOR PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。原发性胆汁性肝硬化（PBC）是一种病因不明的疾病，其中肝脏中的小胆管被炎症缓慢破坏。大多数医生认为PBC是由于针对肝脏胆管的异常免疫反应引起的。它被认为是一种自身免疫性疾病。胆管的丧失会导致胆汁在肝脏中倒流，最终导致肝脏损伤、肝硬化，甚至可能导致肝功能衰竭。目前还没有已知的针对PBC的特异性治疗方法。UDCA和甲氨蝶呤可能对治疗这种自身免疫性疾病有用。本研究将检验UDCA联合甲氨蝶呤治疗是否优于UDCA单独治疗。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a disease of unknown cause in which the small bile ducts in the liver are destroyed slowly by inflammation. Most physicians believe that PBC is due to an abnormal immune response directed against the bile ducts in the liver. It is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Loss of bile ducts causes bile to back up in the liver and ultimately leads to liver damage, liver cirrhosis and possibly liver failure. There is no known specific treatment for PBC at present. UDCA and methotrexate may be useful in the treatment of this autoimmune disease. This study will examine whether treatment with UDCA and methotrexate is better than treatment with UDCA alone.