The impact of undiagnosed primary biliary cholangitis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Garrido, I (Author) Other; Liberal, R (Author) Other; Cardoso, MJ (Author) Other; Macedo G (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Vol. 33

ISSN: 0954-691X

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-2AY

DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002268

Abstract (EN): Background Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by symptoms with a major impact on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify patients with undiagnosed PBC who are not under hepatology follow-up and to assess the clinical impact of lack of adequate treatment and surveillance. Methods Adult patients with a positive antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) titer were identified from local biochemistry records. Patients with probable PBC who were not known by the hepatology services were invited to accurately stage their disease and optimize medical management. Results A total of 214 AMA-positive patients were identified, 148 of whom had diagnostic criteria for PBC. Twenty-three patients were not known by the hepatology services, most of them followed by specialties other than gastroenterology. These patients had significantly higher liver stiffness compared to those followed by the hepatology services (14.3 kPa vs. 6.2 kPa; P = 0.009). A large percentage of untreated individuals reported fatigue (72.7%) and pruritus (27.3%). Conclusions A substantial number of patients with PBC are not known to have hepatology services with a significant long-term impact from a lack of follow-up and therapy. Strategies must be established to identify these patients and reduce the disease's progressive nature. Copyright

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Dissemination

No. of pages: 5