From the Guidelines
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is not a laboratory test but a medication, and its effectiveness is typically monitored through liver function tests (LFTs) such as alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin levels 1. To measure UDCA levels in the body, specialized blood tests that analyze bile acid profiles can be used, but these are not routinely available in standard laboratories and are usually performed in specialized research or clinical settings.
Key Points to Consider
- UDCA is commonly prescribed for conditions like primary biliary cholangitis, certain gallstone conditions, and other cholestatic liver diseases.
- The medication can improve serum liver tests and surrogate markers of prognosis at doses of 15-20 mg/kg/d, as recommended by recent guidelines 1.
- Monitoring of UDCA therapy should be done by a gastroenterologist or hepatologist who can interpret the results in the context of the specific liver condition being treated.
- Liver function tests (LFTs) are used to indirectly assess the effectiveness of UDCA treatment by measuring improvements in liver function.
Important Considerations for UDCA Therapy
- The dose of UDCA should not exceed 20 mg/kg/day, as higher doses may lead to worse outcomes despite improvement of liver function tests 1.
- UDCA may reduce the risk of colonic cancer in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and is considered a beneficial treatment option for this condition 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
There is no information in the provided drug labels about a lab test called Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) or how to look for it.
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) Lab Test
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a non-toxic, hydrophilic bile acid used to treat predominantly cholestatic liver disorders 2, 3, 4, 5.
- It is not a lab test, but rather a medication used to treat various liver diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy 2, 3, 4, 5.
- To look for UDCA, you can search for it in medical records or prescriptions as a treatment for liver diseases, or you can look for laboratory tests that measure bile acid levels, such as the bile acid panel, which may include UDCA levels 6.
Mechanisms of Action
- UDCA has several mechanisms of action, including cytoprotection, anti-apoptotic, immunomodulatory, and choleretic effects 2, 3, 4, 5.
- It can protect injured cholangiocytes against toxic effects of bile acids, stimulate impaired biliary secretion, and inhibit apoptosis of hepatocytes 3.
Therapeutic Efficacy
- UDCA has been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis and improving biochemical parameters of cholestasis in various other cholestatic disorders 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Its efficacy in non-cholestatic disorders, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis, remains to be established 2, 6.