Primární biliární cholangitida (PBC) je chronické, imunologicky podmíněné jaterní onemocnění, které ve svém dlouhodobém průběhu vede k destrukci malých žlučovodů, cholestáze, fibróze a cirhóze jater s jaterním selháním. PBC postihuje ve více než 90 % ženy středního věku, většina pacientů je nyní diagnostikována v asymptomatickém stadiu. Diagnóza onemocnění je obvykle stanovena na základě kombinace laboratorních vyšetření, elevace sérové ALP nad 1,5násobek normy trvající déle než 6 měsíců a přítomnosti AMA protilátek v titru 1: 40 nebo vyšším. Typický histologický nález potvrzuje diagnózu, stadium jaterního onemocnění je však nyní možné určit i pomocí neinvazivních metod. Kyselina ursodeoxycholová je v současné době léčbou první volby, v případě intolerance nebo nedostatečné odpovědi na léčbu je možné zahájit léčbu elafibranorem, duálním agonistou PPAR a/d. Transplantace jater je indikována u pacientů s PBC, kteří dospěli do stadia jaterního selhání i přes podávanou medikamentózní léčbu.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, autoimmune disorder of the liver. In its long-term course, it leads to small bile ducts destruction, cholestasis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure. PBC is much common in women, especially of middle age. Most patients are diagnosed in an asymptomatic stage. The diagnosis is based on the combination of laboratory assessments, alkaline phosphatase elevation of more than 1,5 ULN for more than 6 months, and AMA antibodies in a titre 1: 40 or higher. The typical histological finding confirms the diagnosis, but the stage of liver disease may be determined based on the non-invasive liver stiffness measurement. Ursodeoxycholic acid represents nowadays standard-of-care in PBC patients, followed by elafibranor in intolerant patients or in non-responders. Liver transplantation is indicated in those with liver failure in whom conservative therapy failed.
- Keywords
- Elafibranor,
- MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary * diagnosis etiology drug therapy MeSH
- Chalcones pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- PPAR alpha pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- PPAR delta pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Propionates pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Liver Transplantation MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Review MeSH
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic disease characterized by the destruction of the small intrahepatic bile ducts, which can progress to liver cirrhosis. The gold standard in the treatment of PBC is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is indicated in all patients with PBC because it improves not only biochemical parameters but also patients' survival. An important milestone in the identification of patients at risk is the assessment of biochemical response to UDCA. Patients who respond to treatment have a lower incidence of hepatic events and better prognosis than patients who do not. Several scoring systems can be used to assess the response and identify non-responders who will benefit from second-line treatment. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is currently the only approved second-line treatment for PBC, which is effective for non-responders to UDCA therapy or patients, who have not tolerated UDCA therapy. However, OCA is contraindicated in advanced liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Moreover, pruritus may be a limiting factor for the administration of OCA. Fibrates have shown promising data supporting their use in non-responders to UDCA because they improve the biochemical parameters and elastographic findings and have possible antipruritic effects. Therefore, the idea of a triple treatment seems interesting. Clinical research is focusing on several other groups of drugs: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ- and α/δ agonists, non-steroidal farnesoid X receptor agonists, fibroblast growth factor 19 modulators, and inhibitors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1 and 4.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Tacrolimus has been associated with recurrence of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) after liver transplantation (LT), which in turn may reduce survival. This study aimed to assess the association between the type of calcineurin inhibitor used and long-term outcomes following LT in patients with PBC. METHODS: Survival analyses were used to assess the association between immunosuppressive drugs and graft or patient survival among adult patients with PBC in the European Liver Transplant Registry. Patients who received a donation after brain death graft between 1990 and 2021 with at least 1 year of event-free follow-up were included. RESULTS: In total, 3,175 patients with PBC were followed for a median duration of 11.4 years (IQR 5.9-17.9) after LT. Tacrolimus (Tac) was registered in 2,056 (64.8%) and cyclosporin in 819 (25.8%) patients. Following adjustment for recipient age, recipient sex, donor age, and year of LT, Tac was not associated with higher risk of graft loss (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.07, 95% CI 0.92-1.25, p = 0.402) or death (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 0.90-1.24, p = 0.473) over cyclosporin. In this model, maintenance mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was associated with a lower risk of graft loss (aHR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.87, p <0.001) or death (aHR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87, p <0.001), while these risks were higher with use of steroids (aHR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13-1.52, p <0.001, and aHR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15-1.56, p <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this large LT registry, type of calcineurin inhibitor was not associated with long-term graft or recipient survival, providing reassurance regarding the use of Tac post LT in the population with PBC. Patients using MMF had a lower risk of graft loss and death, indicating that the threshold for combination treatment with Tac and MMF should be low. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: This study investigated the association between immunosuppressive drugs and the long-term survival of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) following donation after brain death liver transplantation. While tacrolimus has previously been related to a higher risk of PBC recurrence, the type of calcineurin inhibitor was not related to graft or patient survival among patients transplanted for PBC in the European Liver Transplant Registry. Additionally, maintenance use of mycophenolate was linked to lower risks of graft loss and death, while these risks were higher with maintenance use of steroids. Our findings should provide reassurance for physicians regarding the continued use of Tac after liver transplantation in the population with PBC, and suggest potential benefit from combination therapy with mycophenolate.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of many malignancies in recent years. However, immune-related adverse events (irAE) are a frequent concern in clinical practice. The safety profile of ICI for the treatment of malignancies in patients diagnosed with autoimmune and cholestatic liver disease (AILD) remains unclear. Due to this uncertainty, these patients were excluded from ICI clinical trials and ICI are withheld from this patient group. In this retrospective multicenter study, we assessed the safety of ICI in patients with AILD. METHODS: We contacted tertiary referral hospitals for the identification of AILD patients under ICI treatment in Europe via the European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER). Fourteen centers contributed data on AILD patients with malignancies being treated with ICI, another three centers did not treat these patients with ICI due to fear of irAEs. RESULTS: In this study, 22 AILD patients under ICI treatment could be identified. Among these patients, 12 had primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), five had primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), four had autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and one patient had an AIH-PSC variant syndrome. Eleven patients had hepatobiliary cancers and the other 11 patients presented with non-hepatic tumors. The applied ICIs were atezolizumab (n=7), durvalumab (n=5), pembrolizumab (n=4), nivolumab (n=4), spartalizumab (n=1), and in one case combined immunotherapy with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. Among eight patients who presented with grade 1 or 2 irAEs, three demonstrated liver irAEs. Cases with grades ≥ 3 irAEs were not reported. No significant changes in liver tests were observed during the first year after the start of ICI. DISCUSSION: This European multicenter study demonstrates that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors appear to be safe in patients with AILD. Further studies on the safety of more potent dual immune checkpoint therapy are needed. We conclude that immunotherapy should not categorically be withheld from patients with AILD.
- MeSH
- B7-H1 Antigen MeSH
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor MeSH
- Hepatitis, Autoimmune * drug therapy MeSH
- Cholestasis * MeSH
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors adverse effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neoplasms * MeSH
- Nivolumab adverse effects MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary * diagnosis drug therapy MeSH
- Clinical Studies as Topic MeSH
- Congresses as Topic MeSH
- Chenodeoxycholic Acid pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid administration & dosage pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- News MeSH
- Keywords
- kyselina obeticholová,
- MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary * drug therapy MeSH
- Cholic Acids pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Practice Guideline MeSH
BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver disease characterized by progressive destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts, followed by fibrous substitution of the ducts and potential evolution in cirrhosis. The geographical disparity in the prevalence of PBC suggests a possible role of environmental factors in developing the disease. We analyzed two groups of patients with different geographical prevalence. METHODS: This study concerned the analysis of 14 Caucasian patients in two groups: ten patients enrolled in the Digestive Diseases Unit, University of Catanzaro (Italy), and four patients enrolled in the Department of Hepatology, University Hospital Kràlovskè Vinohrady of Prague (Czech Republic). The statistical analysis was performed using the software IBM SPSS (v. 20, Windows). RESULTS: The Italian group showed a statistically significant difference in the total bilirubin values at diagnosis and during the last control (0.74±0.267 vs. 0.56±0.246; p-value: 0.013). Moreover, the comparison between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference in the serum albumin values at the time of the last control (4.6±0.231 vs. 4.15±0.532; p-value: 0.048). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate an effective difference in the onset and clinical presentation between our two groups. More epidemiologic, prospective, and multicenter research projects are warranted to advance PBC knowledge in Europe.
- MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary * diagnosis epidemiology MeSH
- Bilirubin MeSH
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Serum Albumin MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
Primární biliární cholangitida (PBC) je chronické imunologicky podmíněné jaterní onemocnění, které ve svém dlouhodobém průběhu vede k destrukci malých žlučovodů, cholestáze, fibróze a cirhóze jater s jaterním selháním. PBC postihuje ve více než 90 % ženy středního věku, většina pacientů je nyní diagnostikována v asymptomatickém stadiu. Diagnóza onemocnění je obvykle stanovena na základě kombinace laboratorních vyšetření, elevace hodnot sérové alkalické fosfatázy převyšující 1,5násobek normy po dobu delší než šest měsíců a přítomnosti protilátek proti mitochondriím (AMA) v titru 1 : 40 nebo vyšším. Typický histologický nález potvrzuje diagnózu, stadium jaterního onemocnění je však nyní možné určit i pomocí neinvazivních metod. Kyselina ursodeoxycholová je v současné době léčbou první volby, v případě neúspěšné léčby je možno použít kyselinu obeticholovou. Transplantace jater je indikována u pacientů s PBC, kteří dospěli do stadia jaterního selhání i přes podávanou léčbu medikamentózní.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) isachronic autoimmune disorder of the liver. In its long‑term course, it leads to small bile ducts destruction, cholestasis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and chronic liver failure. PBC is much common in women, especially of middle‑age, most patients are diagnosed in an asymptomatic stage. The diagnosis is based on the combination of laboratory assessments, alkaline phosphatase elevation more than 1,5 ULN for more than 6 months, and the presence of AMA in atitre 1 : 40 or higher. The typical histological finding confirms the diagnosis, but the stage of liver disease may be determined based on the non‑invasive liver stiffness measurement. Ursodeoxycholic acid represents nowadays standard‑of‑care in PBC patients, followed by obeticholic acid in non‑responders. Liver transplantation is indicated it those with liver failure in whom conservative therapy failed.
The liver and the biliary tree form the main excretory route of manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). Cholestasis, can lead to the accumulation of these trace elements in the organism, resulting in toxicity to the basal ganglia of the central nervous system. The aim of our study was to reveal the influence of long-term cholestasis on the Mn and Cu levels in the blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We recruited patients with PBC (n = 20) and PSC (n = 32). A control group (n = 40) was also set up. We also examined serum bile acid concentrations and liver enzyme activities. We did not observe any significant differences in any of these parameters between the PBC and PSC groups. The Mn and Cu levels in the PBC and PSC patients differed significantly from the that in the control group (p < 0.0001 and p < .021, respectively). Patients in whom the laboratory cholestasis markers normalized during ursodeoxycholic acid treatment (18/52;35%) presented with significantly lower levels of Mn and Cu (p = .015 and p = .012, respectively). Ten PSC patients showed normal levels of Mn and Cu six months after liver transplantation. Fine tremors, rigidity, dysarthria, and hypomimia were reported in nine (23%), eight (20%), four (10%), and eight (20%) patients, respectively. In addition to monitoring the cholestasis levels, liver function, and Mn and Cu levels during the long-term treatment of PBC and PSC patients, it is important to also regularly monitor the occurrence and development of extrapyramidal symptoms of Parkinson's-like syndromes.
- MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary blood therapy MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Manganese blood MeSH
- Copper blood MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Cholangitis, Sclerosing blood therapy MeSH
- Case-Control Studies MeSH
- Liver Transplantation MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Observational Study MeSH
Autoimmune hepatitis (AH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are autoimmune diseases (AIDs) targeting cellular components of the liver. Being rare diseases, limited data are available about familial risks among these AIDs (concordant) or between them and other AIDs (discordant). We aimed to carry out an unbiased study on these AIDs based on medically diagnosed patients. We collected data on patients diagnosed in Swedish hospitals with AH, PBC and other AIDs and calculated familial standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for concordant and discordant familial relative risks. The number of AH patients was 6,269, of whom 43.0% were male; patient numbers for PBC were 4,269, with 17.8% males. AH accounted for 0.8% and 0.6% of all hospitalized AIDs in Sweden. For AH only the familial risk between siblings was significant (3.83). For PBC the risks for offspring of parents (9.05) and siblings (10.88) were high, but only risk for females was significant. Spousal risks were very high, 5.91 and 6.07 for AH. Risk for AH was 2.21 in families of PBC, and it was 2.47 for PBC in families of AH patients. Among other AIDs, 14 showed a significant association with AH, compared to 16 AIDs with PBC. The surprising finding in this nation-wide family study on medically diagnosed patients was the high risk for AH (6.0) between spouses, which exceed the risk between siblings, suggesting the existence of strong environmental risk factors. AH and PBC were associated with multiple other AIDs. The results call attention to environmental factors in AID etiology which should also be in focus in taking anamnestic data from patients.
- MeSH
- Hepatitis, Autoimmune complications MeSH
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary complications MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Spouses MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Family MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
