Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Better Diagnosis, Tx Options Improve PBC Mortality
J Gastroenterol; ePub 2017 Apr 1; Floreani, et al
Better early recognition and improved treatment options offer renewed hope to patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Researchers point to the following developments as reasons for the optimism:
- An indirect immunofluorescence assay that measures antimitochondrial antibodies is now available to facilitate earlier diagnosis.
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has dramatically improved mortality in PBC patients.
- Obeticholic acid was recently approved and can benefit patients who have only a partial response to UDCA.
- PBC patients with early stage disease are likely to survive about as long as persons in the general population who are matched for age and sex.
Floreani A, Tanaka A, Bowlus C, Gershwin ME. Geoepidemiology and changing mortality in primary biliary cholangitis. [Published online ahead of print April 1, 2017]. J Gastroenterol. doi:10.1007/s00535-017-1333-2.
This Week's Must Reads
Must Reads in PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis)
Age, Sex, & IBD Linked to Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes, Gastroenterology; ePub 2017 Mar 6; Weismuller, et al
Patients with PBC More Likely to Die Waiting for Transplants, Transpl Int; 2017 May; Singal, et al
European Guidelines for Primary Biliary Cholangitis, J Hepatol; ePub 2017 Apr 17; EASL
Autoreactive Antibodies Linked to Xenobiotics in PBC, Hepatology; ePub 2017 May 3; Tanaka, et al
Can PBC Diagnostic Tests Help Track Disease Progress?, Immunol Res; 2017 Feb; Alfano, et al