Risk factors for hepatic decompensation in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

The role of donor sex on the post-liver transplant outcomes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can result in hepatic decompensation and require liver transplantation (LT). This study investigates the effect of the sex of the donor and recipient as a prognostic risk factor for adverse outcomes after LT in patients with PSC.

METHODS

UNOS registry was used to select LT patients with PSC from 1987 to 2019. The study cohort was stratified based on the sex of the recipient and further subdivided based on the sex of the donor. The primary endpoints of this study were all-cause mortality and graft failure, which were evaluated using a sequential Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

This study included 2829 patients; 906 female recipients were transplanted from 441 male donors and 465 female donors. 1923 male recipients were transplanted from 1194 male donors and 729 female donors. Within the mismatch analyses, the male-to-male recipients also had a significantly reduced hazard ratio of graft failure compared to female-to-male transplants [aHR 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.79, P  = 0.003]. No difference in graft failure was observed in the mismatched female recipient subgroup. The mismatched male recipient group also showed a decreased hazard ratio of mortality from graft rejection and respiratory causes. No differences in specific mortality causes were identified in the mismatched female recipient group.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated an increase in the risk of graft failure and mortality secondary to graft failure in male recipients of female donor livers. No differences in mortality or graft failure were identified in female recipients of male livers.

Incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis: criteria, epidemiology, and possible mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

As a common autoimmune disease with the characteristic of early complication, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) leads to an increasing number of mortalities among people with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) waiting for liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only approved first-line medicine for PBC, and a good response to treatment could acquire an ideal prognosis. Patients with poor UDCA response usually have more adverse outcomes and worse survival, therefore, the management of this group become a major consideration.

AREAS COVERED

Due to the complexity of race and environment for PBC, different criteria for UDCA response exhibit various predictive performances. Factors affecting UDCA response conditions include gender, age, ethnicity, serum indicators, auto-antibodies, and autoimmune comorbidities, while no agreement has been reached. In this review, we mainly focus on cellular senescence, immune-mediated damage, and vitamin D deficiency as possible mechanisms for UDCA non-responders.

EXPERT OPINION

The pathogenesis of PBC has yet to be clarified. Immunology-related mechanisms and therapy targets ought to be the main effort made for further study. Irrespective of the response condition, UDCA is recommended for routine administration in all PBC patients without contraindication. Ongoing clinical trials of second-line and additional therapy exhibit promising prospects.

Autoantibodies in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic immune-mediated liver disease characterized by a lymphocytic cholangitis, with subsequent cholestasis, progressive liver fibrosis, and ultimately complications arising from end-stage liver disease. Testing for autoantibodies is important in the diagnosis of PBC, as well as stratifying prognosis. This review focuses on the role of autoantibodies in the diagnosis of PBC, as well as the relationship between autoantibodies with pathophysiology and prognostication, along with a discussion regarding novel and other related disease autoantibodies.

Primary biliary cholangitis in pregnancy: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The outcomes and disease associations in pregnant women with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have not been largely explored. This study aimed to determine the level of evidence associated with maternal and fetal outcomes and other disease associations in female patients with PBC.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Maternal and fetal outcomes were obtained from patients with a previous, current or subsequent diagnosis of PBC. A random-effects model was employed, using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Eleven studies, with 2179 female PBC patients were included. Pregnant women with PBC were significantly more likely to have a miscarriage (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02-1.58; P = 0.03), and a history of abortion (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.09-2.07; P = 0.01), with absent heterogeneity (I² = 0%). PBC pregnant women were significantly more likely to deliver via vaginal birth (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.33-2.14; P < 0.001) with low level heterogeneity (I² < 0.001%). Patients had a statistically significant increased likelihood of lifetime smoking (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.17-3.23; P = 0.01). Egger's regression revealed no evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis provides pooled evidence that a PBC pregnancy is associated with fetal morbidity and maternal lifestyle associations that may influence pregnancy outcomes. More studies are needed to establish disease associations that may directly affect pregnancy outcomes. These data are essential for clinicians managing these patients before, during or after pregnancy.

Distinct prognostic value of different portal hypertension-associated features in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) may progress to cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). This study assesses different features of CSPH and their distinct prognostic impact regarding decompensation and survival in patients with PBC.

METHODS

Patients with PBC were identified during a database query of our digital patient reporting system.

RESULTS

A total of 333 PBC patients (mean age 54.3 years, 86.8% females, median follow-up 5.8 years) were retrospectively assessed and 127 (38.1%) showed features of CSPH: 63 (18.9%) developed varices, 98 (29.4%) splenomegaly, 62 (18.6%) ascites and 20 (15.7%) experienced acute variceal bleeding. Splenomegaly, portosystemic collaterals and esophageal varices were associated with an increased 5-year (5Y) risk of decompensation (15.0%, 17.8% and 20.9%, respectively). Patients without advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) had a similar 5Y-transplant free survival (TFS) (96.6%) compared to patients with compensated ACLD (cACLD) but without CSPH (96.9%). On the contrary, PBC patients with cACLD and CSPH (57.4%) or decompensated ACLD (dACLD) (36.4%) had significantly decreased 5Y survival rates. The combination of LSM < 15 kPa and platelets ≥ 150G/L indicated a negligible risk for decompensation (5Y 0.0%) and for mortality (5Y 0.0%). Overall, 44 (13.2%) patients died, with 18 (40.9%) deaths attributed to CSPH-related complications.

CONCLUSION

In PBC, features of CSPH may occur early and indicate an increased risk for subsequent decompensation and mortality. Hence, regular screening and on-time treatment for CSPH is crucial. Combining LSM and platelets serves as a valuable preliminary assessment, as LSM < 15 kPa and platelets ≥ 150G/L indicate an excellent long-term outcome.

CONTROL: A randomized phase 2 study of obeticholic acid and atorvastatin on lipoproteins in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic and severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although NASH has no approved treatments, obeticholic acid (OCA), a synthetic bile acid and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, was shown to improve histological features of NASH and fibrosis. Considering that FXR activation influences plasma lipoprotein concentrations, the Combination OCA aNd sTatins for monitoRing Of Lipids (CONTROL) study evaluated how statins can regulate lipoprotein metabolism with OCA treatment in patients with NASH.

METHODS

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study began with a 5-week screening/statin washout; 84 patients with NASH were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to receive placebo or 5 mg, 10 mg or 25 mg OCA once daily during the 16-week double-blind phase. Concurrent once daily atorvastatin (10 mg/days) was initiated at Week 4 with subsequent titration. Enrolled patients had biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of NASH with no evidence of hepatic decompensation. Plasma was collected to analyse lipoprotein parameters.

RESULTS

At Week 4, all OCA groups had an increase from baseline in mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and mean LDL particle concentration (LDLpc), mostly owing to large, less atherogenic LDLc particles. Atorvastatin 10 mg decreased LDLc and LDLpc levels below baseline in all OCA groups by Week 8; higher doses did not provide additional clinical benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

The CONTROL study showed that OCA-induced increases in LDLc in patients with NASH were mitigated with atorvastatin. The combination of OCA and atorvastatin was generally safe and well tolerated (NCT02633956).

Alteration of liver-infiltrated and peripheral blood double-negative T-cells in primary biliary cholangitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Double-negative (DN) T-cell is a unique regulatory T-cell, which is essential for maintaining immune system homoeostasis. However, the role of DN T-cells in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is still unknown.

METHODS

We investigated the number and function of DN T-cells in peripheral blood and liver biopsy specimens of PBC patients.

RESULTS

The number and frequency of DN T-cells significantly decreased in peripheral blood and liver tissue of PBC patients. Furthermore, the frequency of DN T-cells in PBC was negatively correlated with disease severity and positively correlated with ursodeoxycholic acid response. In vitro assays showed that perforin expression and the suppressive capability of DN T-cells on the proliferation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells were impaired in PBC. Finally, lithocholic acid, the most hydrophobic acid, could downregulate the proliferation and perforin expression of DN T-cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased quantity and function of DN T-cells in PBC may result in the loss of immune regulations on effector CD4⁺ and cytotoxic CD8⁺ T-cells, and thereby may break the immune tolerance and promote the pathogenesis of PBC.

Patterns of disease progression and incidence of complications in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

Clinical outcome for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is dictated by development of cirrhosis, portal hypertension and its associated complications; including for some, a predisposition toward hepatocellular carcinoma. However rates of clinical progression vary, and accurately identifying disease course is of critical importance to patients, clinicians, as well as industry, who are committed to developing new effective and life-prolonging therapy as well as treating symptoms that appear disproportionate to underlying disease severity. Patients seek reassurance and guidance as to their own prognosis, and clinicians wish to confidently recognise those at highest risk of poor outcomes as equally as they strive to reassure individuals with a more favourable disease trajectory. International registries have facilitated a much greater knowledge of disease incidence and heterogeneity of presenting phenotypes. In so doing they highlight the opportunity to provide a more individualized estimate of the clinical course that patients experience, and have led to a renewed approach to risk stratification; both in terms of 'hard outcomes' and also disease-associated complications in PBC specifically.

Major Hepatic Complications in Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Treated Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Risk Factors and Time Trends in Incidence and Outcome

OBJECTIVES

In this era of near universal ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), progression to cirrhosis still occurs in an important proportion of patients. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of cirrhosis-associated complications in patients with PBC and assess risk factors and impact on survival.

METHODS

Cohorts of UDCA-treated patients from 16 European and North-American liver centers were included. We used Cox proportional hazards assumptions and Kaplan-Meier estimates.

RESULTS

During 8.1 years' median follow-up, 278 of 3,224 patients developed ascites, variceal bleeding, and/or encephalopathy (incidence rate of 9.7 cases/1,000 patient years). The overall cumulative incidence was 9.1% after 10 years of follow-up, but decreased over time to 5.8% after the year 2000. Earlier calendar year of diagnosis (P<0.001), high aspartate aminotransferase to platelets ratio index (APRI; P<0.001) and biochemical non-response (P<0.001) were independently associated with future complications. Patients with both biochemical non-response and an APRI >0.54 after 12 months of UDCA had a 10-year complication rate of 37.4%, as compared to 3.2% in biochemical responders with an APRI ≤0.54. The 10-year transplantation-free survival after a complication was 9% (time-dependent hazard ratio 21.5; 20.1-22.8). Prognosis after variceal bleeding has improved over time.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large international cohort, up to 15% of UDCA-treated PBC patients developed major non-neoplastic, cirrhosis-associated hepatic complications within 15 years, but cumulative incidence has decreased over time. Biochemical non-response to UDCA and APRI were independent risk factors for these complications. Subsequent long-term outcome after complications is generally poor, but has improved over the past decades.

Underestimated Male Prevalence of Primary Biliary Cholangitis in China: Results of a 16-yr cohort study involving 769 patients

For primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a sex ratio was reported to be significantly lower than previously cited in the West; we sought to evaluate sex ratio and long-term outcomes in PBC by studying a PBC cohort at a high-volume hospital from January 2001 to July 2016. A retrospective analysis including 769 PBC patients was conducted. The gender ratio was 6.1:1. Of the patients, 30.6% had one or more extrahepatic autoimmune (EHA) conditions. The proportion of patients with decompensated PBC at diagnosis increased from 25.0% in period 1 to 47.0% in period 4 (p < 0.05). Of the 420 patients without complications on presentation, the Kaplan-Meier estimate revealed distinct outcomes between non-cirrhotic PBC and cirrhotic PBC, with estimated mean survival times of 145.1 months and 104.5 months, respectively (p < 0.001). According to a subgroup analysis, gender and anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) status did not affect long-term prognosis, whereas patients with EHA conditions showed better prognoses. This study reveals evolving trends in male prevalence similar to their Western counterparts. Cirrhotic PBC patients were distinct from those with non-cirrhotic PBC at diagnosis based on difference in long-term outcome.

The Distribution and the Fibrotic Role of Elevated Inflammatory Th17 Cells in Patients With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

T helper (Th) 17 cells were reported to have the property of proinflammation and profibrosis. We first investigate the levels of Th17 cells in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients, and then explore their distribution and fibrotic role in the disease.We compared the circulating Th17 and hepatic interleukin (IL)-17-positive cells between patients and healthy controls (HCs) at different disease stages by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The levels of chemokine (c-c motif) ligand (CCL) 20 were then measured. For exploration of the reason why Th17 cells increased, CD4CD161 populations were sorted and cultured with IL-23 and IL-1β to analyze their proliferation and IL-17 secretions. The serum IL-23 and IL-1β were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proliferation and expressions of α-smooth muscle actin and IL-8 of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were identified after stimulated by different concentrations of IL-17.Circulating and hepatic Th17 cells were elevated in PBC patients compared with HCs. Early PBC patients presented with more Th17 cells in periphery blood and less in the liver than advanced PBC patients. Accordingly, the levels of both serum and hepatic CCL20 for Th17 cells were higher, especially in those with advanced disease. The progenitor of Th17, CD4CD161 cell was increased in PBC. Moreover, the percentage of Th17 cells was positively related with CD4CD161 cell. After stimulation with IL-23 and IL-1β which were improved in PBC patients, CD4CD161 cells from PBC patients expressed more IL-17, although their proliferation were not different between 2 groups. IL-17 can promote the proliferation of HSCs at a dose-dependent method, and also increase the IL-8 expression in a dose/time-dependent way. Anti-IL-17 can neutralize the above reactions.CD4CD161 cells are a source of increased Th17 in PBC patients. With disease progression, Th17 population decreased in the circulation, accompanied by greater accumulation in the liver, which is regulated by CCL20 in advanced patients. IL-17 may be involved in the process of PBC fibrosis.

Predictors of liver failure in primary biliary cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The disease progression of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) varies significantly, and the prognostic markers that identify those patients who will develop liver failure have been scarcely studied from a Chinese cohort. Aims. We aimed to determine the predictive factors of liver failure in patients with PBC.

METHODS

Patients who were first diagnosed as PBC with hepatic compensation between January 2007 and December 2009 were enrolled in this cohort study.

RESULTS

Altogether 398 patients were finally included. Of these patients, 80% were women, 98% had positive antimitochondrial antibodies, and 45% had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA). To December 2012, a total of 38 patients developed liver failure. According to the outcome, patients who developed liver failure had had higher serum concentration of baseline total bilirubin (TBil) (p = 0.013) and total bile acid (TBA) (p < 0.001), and lower concentrations of baseline total cholesterol (Tch) (p = 0.008), than patients who did not develop liver failure. Additionally, the proportion of ANA positivity was statistically different between the two groups (p = 0.009). In the established model for predicting liver failure in PBC, three variables were finally selected out, including Tch (odds ratio (OR) 0.552, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.394-0.774, p < 0.001), TBA (OR 1.006, 95% CI 1.002-1.010, p = 0.002), and ANA (+ versus -, OR 5.518, 95% CI 1.155-26.376, p = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

ANA, Tch, and TBA are predictors of liver failure in PBC.

CXCR5+ CD4+ T follicular helper cells participate in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis

There is increasing interest in the role of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in autoimmunity from the perspective of both their role in breach of tolerance and their effects on the natural history of disease progression. Indeed, the critical role of Tfh cells in autoimmunity is further highlighted based on their location in the germinal center (GC), a pathogenic hot spot for development of autoreactivity. To address the role of Tfh cells in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), we comprehensively evaluated the immunobiology of CXCR5(+) CD4(+) Tfh cells in 69 patients with PBC, including a nested subgroup of 16 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 20 healthy controls (HC), followed for 1 year. We report herein several key observations. First, there was an increased frequency of circulating Tfh cells in patients with PBC compared to AIH (P < 0.05) and HC (P < 0.01). Second, the function of circulating Tfh cells from PBC patients, including interleukin (IL)-21 production (P < 0.05), the ability to promote B-cell maturation, and autoantibody production, were greater than HC. Third, the frequency of these cells was significantly decreased in ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) responders compared to UDCA-treated nonresponders, in both cross-sectional (P = 0.023) and longitudinal studies (P = 0.036), respectively. Indeed, similar increases of Tfh cells were noted in liver and spleen.

CONCLUSION

These results significantly extend our understanding of lymphoid subpopulations in PBC and their relative role in disease expression. Our data also provide a novel biomarker for evaluation of the effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: a Review Featuring a Women's Health Perspective

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are two major types of chronic cholestatic liver disease. Each disorder has distinguishing features and variable progression, but both may ultimately result in cirrhosis and hepatic failure. The following offers a review of PBC and PSC, beginning with a general overview of disease etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical features, natural course, and treatment. In addition to commonly associated manifestations of fatigue, pruritus, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, select disease-related topics pertaining to women's health are discussed including metabolic bone disease, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular risk, and pregnancy-related issues influencing maternal disease course and birth outcomes. This comprehensive review of PBC and PSC highlights some unique clinical considerations in the care of female patients with cholestatic liver disease.

Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic progressive cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by the destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts and the presence of highly specific serum antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs). In this article, we will review the clinical, serological and histopathological features of PBC as well as the advances in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PBC. In addition, this article systematically describes the advances in the treatment of PBC, and the treatments include ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), budesonide, methotrexate (MTX), farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists, cyclosporine A, bezafibrate, rituximab, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) transplantation, and liver transplantation. At present, liver transplantation is the only option with known therapeutic benefit for end-stage PBC patients.