Objective  To compare the clinical efficacy between tauroursodeoxycholic acid and ursodesoxycholic acid on liver function recovery following liver transplantation.

  Methods  Twenty eight recipients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from 2006 to 2012 were recruited in this investigation. All patients were orally administered with ursodesoxycholic acid for 3 months and subsequently received oral administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid for 6 months. The changes in the levels of total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were statistically compared before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 months after enrollment. At 3 and 9 months following enrollment, the components of bile acid were determined in 5 cases to compare the changes between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic bile acid.

  Results  Within 3 months after oral administration of ursodesoxycholic acid, all parameters related to liver function were elevated. Compared with the level at 3 months after enrollment, the level of TBA was significantly decreased at 5 and 9 months after enrollment. The level of ALT declined at 5 and 6 months. The concentration of AST was decreased at 4 and 5 months. The largest decrease in the level of ALP was noted at 9 months. The content of GGT was found to decline at 6 and 9 months (all P < 0.05). After oral administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a higher level of hydrophilic bile acid was detected in the patients' bile acid, dominated by tauroursodeoxycholic acid.

  Conclusions  Tauroursodeoxycholic acid exerts higher clinical efficacy on promoting the secretion of bile and protecting liver function compared with ursodesoxycholic acid after liver transplantation.