Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to observe the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and microecological agents on intestinal flora in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods 128 patients with PBC were admitted to our hospital from June 2017 through June 2019, and were randomly divided into two groups, with 64 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with UDCA, and those in the observation group were treated with UDCA and microecological agent combination for 24 weeks. The fecal flora were detected by PCR, and serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 as well as serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type Ⅳ (Ⅳ-C) and procollagen-Ⅲ-peptide (PⅢP) were assayed respectively. Results At the end of the treatment, the fecal colonies of bifidobacteria and bacteroides in the observation group were (8.7±0.9) lg CFU/g and (8.9±0.9 lg CFU/g, respectively, significantly higher than [(8.0±0.6) lg CFU/g and (8.1±0.6) lg CFU/g, respectively, P<0.05], while the colonies of yeast-like fungi and escherichia coli were (4.3±0.7) lg CFU/g and (8.7±0.6) lg CFU/g, significantly lower than [(5.1±0.7) lg CFU/g and (9.2±0.7) lg CFU/g, respectively, P<0.05]in the control; serum TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 in the observation group were (5.9±1.6) pg/ml, (65.5±12.6) pg/ml, (5.6±1.1) pg/ml, (7.6±2.3) pg/ml and (17.5±2.7) pg/ml, significantly lower than [(7.0±2.1) pg/ml, (85.7±20.1) pg/ml, (6.7±1.5) pg/ml, (9.2±3.2) pg/ml and (23.3±4.4) pg/ml, P<0.05]in the control group; serum HA, Ⅳ - C and P Ⅲ P were (113.2±24.1) μg/L, (145.5±19.8) μg/L and (134.6±21.5), significantly lower than [(168.4±47.2) μg/L, (178.4 ±51.7) μg/L and (170.5±48.2) μg/L, respectively, P<0.05]in the control. Conclusion Ursodeoxycholic acid and microecological agents combination regimen might effectively correct intestinal flora imbalance, regulate serum cytokines and alleviate the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with PBC.

Key words: Primary biliary cholangitis, Ursodeoxycholic acid, Microecological agents, Intestinal flora, Therapy