Efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid for primary biliary cholangitis: Experience from a tertiary care centre in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive autoimmune cholestatic liver disease that primarily affects females more than males and may lead to end-stage liver disease. We studied baseline characteristics, and the biochemical and clinical response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a first-line treatment option for patients with PBC, in a cohort of patients diagnosed with PBC from Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A total of 30 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of PBC who were being followed in the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017, were enrolled in the study.

Assessment of hypertension and its associated risk factors among medical students in Qassim University.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and premature death. In Saudi Arabia, studies looking at the prevalence of hypertension in young adults are scarce. We aim to provide current data on the prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension in young adults to allow us to assess the magnitude of the problem in this age group and suggest the appropriate recommendations to physicians and policymakers.