Synopsis Chenodeoxycholic acid1 (chenic acid; CDCA) is 1 of the 3 major biliary bile acids in man. When administered in pharmacological doses it causes a decrease in cholesterol saturation of bile, which in turn may lead to gradual dissolution of cholesterol gallstones. The stone dissolution rate during CDCA therapy has varied considerably from about one- third of patients overall to 80 to 90 % in a highly selected group of patients. Radiolucent gallstones in a functioning gallbladder are absolute requirements. CDCA is well tolerated; diarrhoea (sometimes requiring dosage reduction) is the only frequent side effect. Although hepatotoxicity has occurred in certain animal species, and slight hypertransaminasaemia has occurred in some patients, definite liver damage has not been observed in man. CDCA is considered contraindicated in pregnancy, and in those patients with the complications from gallstones which require immediate surgery. Care should be taken in patients with liver disease. The only other proven agent for dissolving gallstones is the 7β-epimer of CDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Preliminary results show that UDCA is as effective as CDCA, but at one- half to two- thirds the dose, without causing diarrhoea. Further studies need to be done with both CDCA and UDCA to improve criteria for selection of patients most likely to respond, and to establish optimum schedules for dosage and duration of treatment. Pharmacodynamic Studies Chenodeoxycholic acid is 1 of the 2 primary bile acids synthesised in human liver. Conjugated with either taurine or glycine, it normally makes up approximately one-third of total biliary bile acids. Normal synthesis of CDCA is autoregulated by the relative composition of bile and the bile acid flux through the hepatocyte. When given orally in pharmacological doses of 10 to 15mg/kg/day, CDCA represents 70 to 95% of the biliary bile acids. At these levels cholesterol secretion into bile is reduced, both in absolute terms and relative to bile acids and phospholipids, the 2 agents that hold cholesterol in micellar solution in bile. Reduced cholesterol saturation allows for the gradual solubilisation of cholesterol from gallstones, leading to their eventual dissolution. In healthy subjects, and in gallstone patients, the saturation of bile with cholesterol varies throughout the day, often being supersaturated when fasting. CDCA therapy renders bile unsaturated in the fasting state, in which case it is likely to be unsaturated for at least 75% of the day. The mechanism of action of pharmacological doses of CDCA is still unclear. While uncoupling the normal relationship between cholesterol, phospholipid and bile acid secretion, CDCA also probably acts partly by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis and perhaps by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption. Reduction in dietary cholesterol is thought to possibly enhance its effect. The changes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism do not result in altered serum cholesterol levels or changes in cholesterol pool sizes, but many studies have shown an approximate 20 % fall in serum triglyceride levels. However, this reduction has tended to diminish with continued treatment. Exogenous CDCA is hepatotoxic in some animal species, including the rhesus monkey, rabbit, rat and baboon, but appears safe in the squirrel monkey and chimpanzee. Although occasional elevations in serum liver enzyme levels occur, no hepatotoxicity has been observed in man, probably because of a superior ability to excrete the toxic metabolite, lithocholic acid. Pharmacokinetic Studies From limited studies in man it appears that unconjugated CDCA is completely absorbed from the small intestine after single doses of up to 400mg. Peak serum concentrations occur 50 to 120 minutes after ingestion. When taken with meals, absorption is usually delayed, but bioavailability is unaltered. Once absorbed, it is bound to plasma proteins and cleared efficiently by the liver. Subsequent clearance from the plasma is also efficient, so that fasting serum levels of CDCA are barely detectable. In the liver exogenous CDCA is conjugated with glycine more than taurine, and secreted into bile along with the pool of endogenous bile acids in the enterohepatic circulation. Conjugated CDCA is either reabsorbed in the terminal ileum, or deconjugated before either excretion or conversion to lithocholic acid (LCA). Absorbed LCA is conjugated and sulphated in the liver to reduce reabsorption on recycling. Thus, continued hepatic sulphation and intestinal excretion of LCA prevent accumulation in bile. Therapeutic Trials Controlled trials with CDCA against placebo or other agents were soon curtailed when it became clear that only CDCA was effective in dissolving gallstones. More recently the 7β-epimer of CDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid, has also been used successfully. Based mainly on retrospective analysis, the optimal dose of CDCA has been 13 to 15mg/kg of bodyweight per day. Single trials in each case have suggested improved efficacy with a low cholesterol diet, concomitant treatment with β-sitosterol, night-time dosage, and a combination of night-time dosage and low cholesterol diet. Overall, radiolucent (presumed cholesterol-rich) gallstones have dissolved in from 30 to 70% of patients. However, results obviously depend on the duration of treatment, which in many reports has not been stated precisely. Because of relatively small numbers of patients, changing study designs, and the presence of multiple variables such as duration of treatment, there has been disagreement on the influence of various factors on response. Nevertheless, most studies have shown that small stones usually dissolve in 6 to 12 months, and occasionally as early as 3 months. Stones from 10 to 20mm in diameter take from 12 to 36 months to dissolve, while no definite response has been seen in larger stones. Changes in bile lipid composition after 1 month of treatment with CDCA have been of predictive value, but again discordant results have been reported by several groups. Obese patients require a higher dose on a bodyweight basis, but studies in such patients are limited. When results were calculated for patients exhibiting apparently favourable prognostic factors, 78% of patients were reported to show complete and 93 % partial and complete gallstone dissolution after 12 months of treatment. Comparative studies with UDCA have shown that UDCA is as effective as CDCA at one-half to two-thirds the dose of CDCA, and that it does not seem to have any side effects. Thus, at this stage, UDCA would appear to have an advantage over CDCA, but further well designed studies are needed to confirm these early findings. In approximately 50% of the small number of such patients studied, CDCA has resulted in disappearance of common bile duct stones, but other methods of treatment would seem preferable. CDCA may be of use in hypertriglyceridaemia as a supplemental approach, particularly in conjunction with clofibrate both to enhance the triglyceride-lowering effect and to reverse the tendency to cholesterol saturation and gallstone formation induced by clofibrate. Again, more studies are required. Side Effects The only side effect frequently reported is diarrhoea, which may occur in 50% of patients or more. Although it is usually mild and transient, settling within a few weeks of commencing treatment, in some patients it may be more persistent. It may be minimised by gradual introduction of therapy and weighting towards a night-time dose. When troublesome, it can be treated with simple antidiarrhoeal medication or temporary or permanent reduction in dosage. During treatment patients are still likely to develop symptoms and complications from gallstones, but uncontrolled observations have suggested that indigestion, bloating and biliary colic are diminished during therapy. The Place of Chenodeoxycholic Acid in Therapy At present, the use of CDCA is restricted in certain countries. It should only be used for radiolucent gallstones in a currently functioning gallbladder. Treatment of large stones should be undertaken only with the understanding that successful treatment may take years. Pregnancy, and complications from gallstones requiring more immediate management, are the only definite contraindications. Dosage and Administration For gallbladder gallstones, CDCA is usually started at a dose of 13 to 15mg/kg of bodyweight per day in divided doses after meals, with a weighting towards the night-time dosage. At this dose, monitoring of bile lipids is probably unnecessary in most patients. However, obese patients are often less responsive, and may require up to 20mg/kg/day. Cholecystograms are usually performed at 6-monthly intervals. When complete stone dissolution has apparently occurred this should be confirmed by either x-ray or ultrasonography.