Primary biliary cirrhosis: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation and therapy

Abstract

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune, slowly progressive, cholestatic, liver disease characterized by a triad of chronic cholestasis, circulating anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), and characteristic liver biopsy findings of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis and interlobular bile duct destruction. About 10% of PBC patients, however, lack AMA. A variant, called PBC-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap, is characterized by the above findings of PBC together with findings of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, elevated serum immunoglobulin G, and circulating anti-smooth muscle antibodies, with liver biopsy demonstrating periportal or periseptal, lymphocytic, piecemeal necrosis. PBC is hypothesized to be related to environmental exposure in genetically vulnerable individuals. It typically occurs in middle-aged females. Prominent clinical features include fatigue, pruritis, jaundice, xanthomas, osteoporosis, and dyslipidemia. The Mayo Risk score is the most widely used and best prognostic system. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the primary therapy. It works partly by reducing the concentration and injury from relatively toxic bile acids. PBC-AIH overlap syndrome is treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and corticosteroids, especially budesonide. Obeticholic acid and fibrate are promising new, but incompletely tested, therapies. Liver transplantation is the definitive therapy for advanced disease, with about 70% 10-year survival after transplantation. Management of pruritis includes local skin care, dermatologist referral, avoiding potential pruritogens, cholestyramine, and possibly opioid antagonists, sertraline, or rifaximin. Management of osteoporosis includes life-style modifications, administration of calcium and vitamin D, and alendronate. Statins are relatively safe to treat the osteopenia associated with PBC. Associated Sjogren’s syndrome is treated by artificial tears, cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion to stimulate tear production; and saliva substitutes, cholinergic agents, and scrupulous oral and dental care. Complications of cirrhosis from advanced PBC include esophageal varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and hepatoma formation.

Core tip: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune, slowly progressive, cholestatic, liver disease characterized by a triad of chronic cholestasis, circulating anti-mitochondrial antibodies, and characteristic liver biopsy findings of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis and interlobular bile duct destruction. Prominent clinical features include fatigue, pruritis, jaundice, xanthomas, osteoporosis, and dyslipidemia. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the primary therapy. Obtecholic acid and fibrate are promising new, but incompletely tested, therapies. Liver transplantation is the definitive therapy for advanced disease, with about 70% 10-year survival after transplantation. Complications of cirrhosis from advanced PBC include esophageal varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and hepatoma formation.

INTRODUCTION

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune, slowly progressive, cholestatic, liver disease[1]. A triad of chronic biochemical cholestasis, circulating anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), and characteristic liver biopsy findings, as described below, is diagnostic of PBC[2]. Development of PBC is hypothesized to be related to environmental exposure in genetically vulnerable individuals, but further studies are needed to understand its complex etiology[3]. This work reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of PBC, with a focus on recent advances.

HISTORY

PBC, as it is now known, was first reported by Addison et al[4] in 1851. The term PBC was, however, coined by Ahrens et al[5] in 1950. Walker et al[6] first described the association between AMA seropositivity and PBC.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

PBC is ten-fold more common in women than men[1]. The reason for this difference is unknown, but a relatively recent study revealed that X chromosome monosomy was more common in women with PBC. This finding suggests that genes related to X-linked immunodeficiencies can lead to granuloma formation and elevated IgM levels, both of which occur in PBC[7].

The median age of diagnosis is about 50 years[8]. There is significant geographic variation, with a much higher prevalence in the United States, at 400 per million[8], or northern Europe, at 200-250 per million, than in Africa, Asia, or Australia, at 20 per million[9]. This difference, however, could largely arise from detection bias; far more epidemiologic studies have been conducted in North America and Europe than in Africa and Asia[10]. Though differences in case-finding methodology, disease awareness, and access to health care may have confounded these studies, the immense geographic disparities suggest that environmental and/or genetic factors affect PBC. Environmental agents, including exposure to sunlight, chemicals, toxins, bacteria and viruses, may differ across geographic regions, and such differences may play a role in pathogenesis[11]. The educational level of individuals with PBC is similar to that of controls, but PBC is apparently more prevalent in patients who belong to higher socioeconomic strata for unclear reasons[12].

PBC is strongly associated with recurrent urinary tract infections[10,12-14]. In an epidemiologic study, 48% of PBC patients had prior recurrent urinary tract infections vs 31% of controls; this difference was statistically significant[12]. Escherichia coli (E. coli), the most frequent cause of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, has been studied in relation with PBC. E. coli infections trigger autoimmune responses, perhaps by molecular mimicry of proteins in E. coli with the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2), which induces B- and T-cell cross-reactive responses that characteristically occur in patients with PBC[10,12,14,15]. Other microorganisms implicated in PBC include Novosphingovium aromaticivorans, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycobacteria and retroviruses, though these associations are weaker than that for E. coli[14]. Numerous studies in the United States and United Kingdom suggest a significant relationship between smoking tobacco and PBC[10,12,15-17]. Chemicals inhaled in tobacco smoke are postulated to decrease immunologic tolerance[11]. Some data suggest patients who use hair dyes are at increased risk of PBC[15], but the evidence is conflicting[10]. PBC is apparently negatively correlated with alcohol consumption[15].

Genetic and familial factors play a major role in PBC[18]. The concordance rate is 63% in monozygotic twins[19], and the concordance rate is 4% in first degree relatives of patients with PBC. Moreover, sisters of a woman with PBC have a 14-fold higher risk of PBC compared to the general population[12].

Autoimmune disorders occur more frequently in patients with PBC, including autoimmune thyroid disorders, Raynaud syndrome, and Sjogren syndrome[12]. These disorders generally precede the onset of PBC by about 4 years. Patients with thyroid disorders should be tested for the presence of AMA. A recent meta-analysis suggested that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR 7 and -DR 8 are risk factors for PBC, whereas HLA-DR 11 and -DR 13 are protective factors[20]. Other genetic variants associated with PBC include polymorphisms of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen[21,22], tumor necrosis factor (TNF)[23], vitamin D receptor[24], and HLA loci 11 and 12.

DIAGNOSIS

PBC is diagnosed provided two of the following three criteria are satisfied: (1) AMA titer > 1:40; (2) alkaline phosphatase (AP) > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal for > 24 wk; and (3) compatible liver histology, demonstrating nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis and interlobular bile duct destruction[25-27].

AMA

AMA is the most specific serological marker among > 60 autoantibodies analyzed in PBC patients[28,29]. It is detected in > 90% of patients with PBC, whereas it is detected in < 1% of the general population[1,29]. Patients with hepatitis C virus infection, however, have an 8% prevalence of AMA positivity. The antibody targets are members of a family of enzymes, the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes, which include PDC-E2, branched chain 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex, and 2-oxo-glutaric acid dehydrogenase complex. These enzymes catalyze oxidative decarboxylation of ketoacid substrates and are located on the inner mitochondrial membrane[27,30,31].

AMA is routinely detected in clinical laboratories by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Its titer does not correlate with PBC severity or activity. It is reasonable to determine serum liver function tests annually in seropositive individuals who initially have normal serum liver function tests[25]. When PBC is strongly suspected in AMA-negative patients, PBC-specific antinuclear antibodies (ANA), should be determined, including sp100 and gp210[7,32]. Elevated serum AP levels and characteristic liver histology, as aforementioned, also help in diagnosing PBC[25]. Occasionally, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be necessary to exclude primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or other alternative etiologies for cholestatic liver disease[33]. PSC is strongly suspected in a patient with elevated serum AP who has inflammatory bowel disease[34].

The time from detection of AMA to development of PBC is about 6 years (range 1-19 years)[35]. Only about 10% of patients who are AMA seropositive, but lack clinical features of PBC, subsequently develop PBC. A recent Greek study examined the significance of AMA, ANA-specific antibodies (anti-gp210 and anti-sp100), and antichromatin antibodies[36]. Autoantibody positivity, with increased autoantibody titers of anti-gp210 and anti-sp100 during follow-up, were related to advanced PBC. Mildly elevated anti-sp100 titers were associated with improved long-term prognosis (P = 0.025), and better response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) (P = 0.016)[35].

LIVER HISTOLOGY

Though liver biopsy is not mandatory for diagnosis, it helps stage the disease and differentiate PBC from other cholestatic liver disorders[27,37,38]. PBC has 4 histologic stages: (1) portal inflammation with or without florid bile duct lesions; (2) increase in size of periportal lesions with interface hepatitis; (3) distortion of hepatic architecture with numerous fibrous septa; and (4) cirrhosis. These stages occur sequentially with disease progression. The term “florid bile duct lesion” describes focal lesions that exhibit intense inflammatory infiltration and necrosis around bile ducts (Figure 1). The inflammatory infiltrate consists primarily of lymphocytes and mononuclear cells closely apposed with the basal membrane of cholangiocytes undergoing necrosis. The infiltrate may also contain macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells, and occasionally epithelioid granulomas, especially in early PBC[39]. The inflammatory infiltrates often compress and occlude portal venules. Generally, terminal hepatic venules are retained in their central location with progression to fibrosis and sometimes even to cirrhosis. Ductopenia, or bile duct paucity, is defined as presence of bile ducts in < 50% of portal tracts[27]. Interface hepatitis consists of lymphocytic piecemeal necrosis and biliary piecemeal necrosis which is associated with cholestasis[27]. Lymphocytic piecemeal necrosis consists of hepatocellular necrosis or apoptosis associated with lymphohistiocytic cells. This lesion is similar to that found in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Biliary piecemeal necrosis exhibits a striking reaction of ductular proliferation, accompanied by edema, neutrophil infiltration, periductular fibrosis, and necrotic hepatocytes.

Figure 1.

Lower (A) and higher (B) magnification photomicrographs of a liver biopsy sample in a patient with early primary biliary cirrhosis shows a moderately severe, mixed inflammatory infiltrate consisting mostly of lymphocytes and plasma cells concentrated around small bile ducts in the portal area. Note the absence of inflammation around hepatocytes (H and E stains). Both figures obtained with permission (granted under the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2) from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Primary_biliary_cirrhosis_intermed_mag_2.jpg. Accessed March 10, 2015.

PBC VARIANTS

PBC variants constitute about 5% of cases[40]. The five types of variants are listed in Table 1[33]. The two major variants are PBC-AIH overlap and AMA-negative PBC.

Table 1.

Primary biliary cirrhosis - autoimmune hepatitis overlap can present in the following ways

Immunoserological overlap: e.g., positive ANA/anti-smooth muscle antibody titers and elevated IgG in conjunction with AMA-positive PBC; or AMA positivity in AIH

Biochemical overlap: AST/ALT > 5 times upper limit of normal in patients with PBC or PSC; or AP > 3 times upper limit of normal in patients with AIH (or GGT > 5 times upper limit of normal in children)

Radiological overlap: clinical features of AIH with cholangiographic abnormalities indicative of inflammatory cholangiopathy; cholangiographic features of primary sclerosing cholangitis are randomly distributed annular strictures out of proportion to upstream dilatation[33]

Histological overlap: lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and interface hepatitis on liver biopsy with bile duct lesions indicative of either PBC or PSC

Varying combinations of the above, including sequential presentations

ANA: Antinuclear antibodies; PBC: Primary biliary cirrhosis; AMA: Anti-mitochondrial antibodies; AIH: Autoimmune hepatitis; PSC: Primary sclerosing cholangitis; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase.

PBC-AIH overlap

The PBC-AIH overlap syndrome consists of a range of clinical entities of AIH together with clinical, laboratory, or histological characteristics of PBC or PSC[41-43]. These two overlapping conditions rarely present simultaneously; PBC generally precedes AIH by 6 mo to several years[43]. No stringent criteria exist for this overlap syndrome. In the most widely accepted criteria, overlap syndrome is diagnosed when PBC is diagnosed by the aforementioned criteria and AIH by the presence of the following criteria: (1) serum alanine aminotransferase ≥ 5 × upper limit of normal, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels ≥ 2 × upper limit of normal, or positive test for anti-smooth muscle anti-bodies; and (2) liver biopsy demonstrating moderate or severe periportal or periseptal, lymphocytic, piecemeal necrosis[44,45]. The simplified International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group criteria for diagnosis of overlap syndrome are not currently recommended[43]. The Paris criteria for diagnosis of PBC-AIH overlap include an AP-to-aminotransferase ratio < 1.5, elevated serum IgG level, and anti-smooth muscle antibody (anti-SMA) titer > 1:80[25,26,46].

AMA negative PBC

AMA-negative PBC and classic PBC have similar clinical findings and laboratory characteristics[40,47-49]. They have similar age and sex distributions, similar incidence of complications, and similar time-to-liver-transplantation and survival. The relationship between AMA-negative PBC and autoimmune cholangiopathy is controversial. Some authorities use these terms interchangeably[49,50], whereas other authorities view them as disparate entities, with autoimmune cholangiopathy representing PBC with negative AMA titers, but positive ANA or anti-SMA titers[40]. Before labeling individuals as AMA-negative PBC, methods to detect circulating AMA should be assiduously employed, including sensitive immunochemical testing with bead microassays, use of three mitochondrial autoantigens[51], and serial testing[52]. Liver biopsy is mandatory to diagnose PBC in the setting of AMA seronegativity[50]. Other etiologies of liver disease in the differential diagnosis should be excluded, including sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4 cholangitis, drug induced liver injury, etc.[50]. Additionally, other causes of elevated serum AP should be investigated, including hepatic causes such as infectious hepatitis, granulomatous liver disease, infiltrative liver disease, and idiopathic adult ductopenia; and non-hepatic causes such as pregnancy, bone disease, heart failure, renal failure, leukemia, lymphoma, etc.[53].

CLINICAL FEATURES

The clinical features and epidemiology of PBC are described in Table 2[54-60]. The most common clinical symptoms are fatigue and pruritus. Patients with fatigue and pruritus at onset are more likely to progress to cirrhosis and are less likely to respond to UDCA[61]. Pruritus is often severe and disabling, and associated with a poor quality of life. Both symptoms are described in detail below.

Table 2.

Clinical features of primary biliary cirrhosis

Clinical features	Prevalence	Mechanism
Fatigue	20%-85%[55,56,58]	Excessive manganese deposits in globus pallidum, elevated inflammatory cytokines
Pruritus	20%-75%[35,58]	Cholestasis, increased opiodergic tone
Jaundice	10%-60%[58]	Cholestasis
Xanthomas	15%-50%[58]	Hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia[56]
Osteoporosis	35%[59]	Disturbances in bone remodeling due to metabolic changes in PBC
Dyslipidemia	> 75%[60]	Reduction in biliary secretion of cholesterol. Toxic effects of unconjugated bilirubin

PBC: Primary biliary cirrhosis.

Most patients with PBC have mildly elevated serum aminotransferase levels[62,63], and increased level of immunoglobulins, especially IgM. A study of 25 patients with PBC vs age- and sex-matched controls revealed that IgM was uniformly elevated in patients with PBC[64]. The increase in aminotransferase levels primarily reflects the degree of periportal and lobular necrosis and inflammation, whereas hyperbilirubinemia reflects the degree of ductopenia and biliary piecemeal necrosis[27].

NATURAL HISTORY

The natural history of PBC, including the percentage of patients requiring liver transplantation or dying, has recently become less severe due to earlier diagnosis[25], and introduction of UDCA therapy[65,66].

PROGNOSTIC MODELS

The Mayo Risk score is the most widely used and best prognostic system[67]. It is superior to the Child-Pugh score in predicting prognosis[67]. It incorporates patient age, serum bilirubin concentration, albumin concentration, prothrombin time, and degree of edema. The Mayo Risk score = 0.04 (Age) + 10.87 Log_e (Bilirubin) - 22.53 Log_e (Albumin) + 12.38 Log_e (Prothrombin time) + 10.86 (Edema score). An edema score of 0=no edema without diuretics, 1 = edema with diuretics, and 0.5 = otherwise. This risk score is used to calculate expected patient survival for up to 7 years of follow-up[68]. A Mayo Risk score of 7.8 is considered the optimal time to evaluate a patient for liver transplantation[69,70].

TREATMENT

The aim of PBC therapy is to reverse injury from bile duct inflammation to relieve symptoms, prevent disease progression, relieve laboratory abnormalities, and prevent the consequences of chronic cholestasis, including pruritus, fatigue, osteoporosis, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies[71]. The mechanism of action and therapeutic effects of drugs for PBC are summarized in Table 3[72,73].

Table 3.

Drug therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis

Drug	Mechanism(s) of action	Adverse effects
Ursodeoxycholic acid	Protection of cholangiocytes, stimulation of biliary secretions of bile acids	Diarrhea, hepatic decompensation (rare)
Corticosteroids	Anti-inflammatory, especially useful for interface hepatitis	Cataracts, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, immunosuppression, poor wound healing, weight gain
Budesonide	Anti-inflammatory, especially useful for interface hepatitis	Nausea, dyspepsia; systemic toxicity is much less than for other corticosteroids[73]
Obeticholic acid	Reduces bile acid synthesis, downregulates bile acid uptake proteins	Pruritus
Fibrates	Activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors	Myalgias, rhabdomyalysis, elevated liver enzymes[72]

Ursodeoxycholic acid

Chronic cholestasis results in intrahepatic and systemic accumulation of potentially cytotoxic bile acids that initially promote hepatocyte proliferation, but subsequently cause liver damage, and ultimately cause hepatocyte apoptosis, biliary fibrosis, and cirrhosis[74]. UDCA has three mechanisms of action: (1) protection of cholangiocytes from cytotoxicity of hydrophobic bile acids by modulating the composition of mixed phospholipid-rich micelles, reduced bile acid cytotoxicity, and, possibly, reduced concentration of hydrophobic bile acids in cholangiocytes; (2) stimulation of biliary secretion of bile acids; and (3) protection of hepatocytes against bile acid-induced apoptosis, by inhibiting mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MMPT)[75,76]. UDCA consists of water insoluble crystals that are absorbed by passive nonionic diffusion mostly in the small intestine with a small amount absorbed in the colon, reabsorbed from portal blood via first-pass metabolism, conjugated mainly with glycine and taurine, and actively secreted into bile. Administration of UDCA increases bile acid saturation in bile in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in increased clearance of bile acids from blood, and reduced symptoms from cholestasis, particularly pruritus. These beneficial effects occur with the recommended daily-administered dose of 13-15 mg/kg per day which increases the solubility of bile acids in bile by 40%-50%. However, efficacy is not established beyond this recommended dose[74].

UDCA is the only therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[77]. It is well tolerated at the recommended dose. Diarrhea occurs in 2%-9% of cases[78]. Hispanics reportedly respond less well to UDCA than non-Hispanics[79]. UDCA can occasionally cause right upper quadrant pain, and rarely hepatic decompensation, when administered to patients with end-stage PBC[78]. A prospective study of 297 Dutch patients with PBC showed that UDCA, when administered to patients with early histologic disease, significantly improved transplant-free survival (1 year = 99.7%, 5 year = 87%, and 10 year = 71%) than that predicted by the Mayo model[80]. The AASLD recommends administration of UDCA in patients with PBC with abnormal liver function tests, regardless of histological stage[36]. A meta-analysis of 1038 patients in seven randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up demonstrated UDCA decreased the incidence of liver transplantation [odds ratio (OR) = 0.65, P = 0.01], and decreased the combined rates of mortality or liver transplantation (OR = 0.76, P = 0.05). A meta-analysis of French, Canadian, and Mayo Clinic trials[81] demonstrated beneficial effects of UDCA on patient survival and time-to-liver transplantation. This benefit was observed in patients with moderate-to-severe disease, but not in patients with mild disease (serum bilirubin concentration < 1.4 mg/dL, stage I or II histological abnormalities)[81]. After liver transplantation, UDCA, compared to placebo, does not affect retransplantation rates, acute cellular rejection, or mortality related to allograft rejection[77].

UDCA protects against hepatoma development in patients with PBC, as demonstrated in a study of 930 patients[82,83]. Patients with PBC treated with UDCA experience an approximately three-fold decline in risk of hepatoma as compared to untreated patients. However, failure to improve liver function test abnormalities after one year of UDCA therapy represents a risk factor for hepatoma development[84].

Biochemical response to UDCA

A biochemical response to UDCA has been variably described as: (1) a Mayo risk score < 4.5, or serum AP level < 2 × upper limit of normal after 6 mo of treatment[85]; (2) a reduction in serum AP level to < 40% of baseline or to within normal limits at one year[86]; or (3) serum AP < 3 × upper limit of normal, AST < 2 × upper limit of normal, and bilirubin < 1 mg/dL after 1 year of UDCA therapy. Patients satisfying criterion 3 had a 90% rate of transplant-free survival at 10 years[87].

Corticosteroids

UDCA alone may not produce a biochemical response in patients with features of AIH, and such patients often require concomitant immunosuppressive therapy. Meta-analysis of seven randomized, controlled trials of patients with PBC with features of AIH showed that UDCA combined with corticosteroids significantly improved serum parameters of liver function and histologic grades, but did not significantly improve mortality or liver transplantation rate[88]. Long term use of corticosteroids can cause adverse effects, including hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, cataracts, weight gain, increased risk of opportunistic infections, etc.[89].

Budesonide

Budesonide is a corticosteroid that demonstrates first-pass metabolism in the liver, decreases systemic exposure to corticosteroids by 90% and reduces systemic toxicity as compared to other corticosteroids[90]. Randomized clinical trials have shown that budesonide at 6-9 mg/kg per day in combination with UDCA can improve serum biochemical parameters of liver function and liver histology, especially in patients with grade I-III fibrosis[91,92]. One study, however, showed only marginally significant improvement in serum AP levels with budesonide at the cost of increased systemic toxicity. This study did not, however, assess the grade of fibrosis in study patients and the finding of marginal improvement might reflect poor prognosis of PBC patients with cirrhosis[93]. Patients with cirrhosis administered budesonide have worse side effects than those without cirrhosis, and have an increased risk of portal venous thrombosis. Hence, patients with grade IV fibrosis or cirrhosis are generally not administered budesonide[94].

Obetocholic acid

Obetocholic acid, a farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) agonist, is present in liver, intestine, kidneys, and adrenals. It plays an important role in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. It reduces bile acid synthesis by its action on 7 alpha hydroxylase, down-regulates bile acid uptake proteins, and increases expression of bilirubin exporter pumps[95,96]. An international, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with PBC showed substantial improvement in various liver enzyme levels including AP, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and alanine aminotransferase with various drug doses[97-99]. A long-term, phase III trial of obetocholic acid in UDCA-treated patients is currently in progress (EudraCT Number: 2011-004728-36)[71].

Fibrates

Fibrates can benefit patients who respond suboptimally to UDCA, as reflected by significant improvement in cholestasis, cytolysis, and pruritus after adding fibrates[71,100-105]. Its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Fibrates activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and apparently stimulate multidrug resistance protein 3 located primarily in liver, which in turn protects the hepatobiliary system by inducing phosphatidylcholine transport across the bile canalicular membrane to render bile less toxic[100]. Fibrates substantially improve serum biochemical tests of liver function, especially serum AP, though improvement in survival is yet to be demonstrated.

Other therapies

As PBC presumably has an immunologic component, numerous immunosuppressants and immunomodulators other than corticosteroids have been tested for treating PBC. No evidence supports their efficacy (Table 4[106-120]). Similarly, numerous other drugs have failed to demonstrate efficacy in clinical trials and are not currently recommended[26,27].

Table 4.

Drugs without efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis as demonstrated in clinical trials

Drug	Ref.
Azathioprine	[106]
Chlorambucil	[107]
Methotrexate	[108-110]
Mycophenolate mofetil	[111]
Cyclosporine	[112]
Penicillamine	[113,114]
Colchicine	[115,116]
Malotilate	[117]
Thalidomide	[118]
Silymarin	[119]
Statins	[120]

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, produces selective B-cell depletion that could potentially ameliorate autoimmune disease by decreasing autoantibody production and antigen presentation by B cells[121]. However, this biologic therapy has little efficacy[121,122]. A human monoclonal antibody directed against interleukin 12 (IL-12)/IL-23 (ustekinumab) is currently being investigated in PBC in a phase II trial (EudraCT Number: 2011-000554-31)[71]. Definitive data about safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in PBC are currently lacking.

PBC-AIH overlap is treated with UDCA and immunosuppression using corticosteroids or azathioprine. These agents produce a favorable serum biochemical response[43,44,123-125]. In such patients, UDCA alone increases the rate of fibrosis[124].

Liver transplantation

Liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for PBC. It improves survival[126]. As per the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, between 1995 and 2006, the number of liver transplants increased by a mean of 249 per annum in the United States, but the number of liver transplants performed for PBC decreased steadily by a mean of 5.4 cases per annum[127]. In Europe, PBC is still the third most common reason for liver transplantation, with a relative rate of 9%[128]. One-, 5- and 10-year survival for PBC in Europe are 86%, 80% and 72%, respectively[128]. These rates are higher than those for patients transplanted for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic cirrhosis, or other autoimmune liver diseases.

As per European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines, any PBC patient with a serum bilirubin > 5.9 mg/dL, a Mayo Risk score > 7.8, and/or a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of > 12 should be evaluated for potential liver transplantation[129]. Potential liver transplant candidates should be referred early for evaluation at a liver transplantation center to determine eligibility and assure timely listing as a liver transplant candidate.

As for all patients with end stage liver disease, clinical indications for liver transplantation in PBC include refractory ascites, recurrent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, recurrent variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome type I, and hepatocellular carcinoma, subject to the Milan criteria[130]. Indications specific to PBC include refractory pruritus and chronic fatigue[128]. After determining that a patient is a liver transplant candidate, patients are assigned to receive donor livers from UNOS in America according to the MELD score.

The incidence of recurrent PBC after liver transplantation is about 30% at 10 years and about 40% at 15 years[127,131-133]. Median time to recurrence is 3-5.5 years. Diagnosis of recurrent PBC after liver transplantation is often challenging because AMA is persistently positive in most patient after transplantation[134], and elevated serum AP can be due to various etiologies after transplantation including acute rejection, chronic rejection, viral infection, drug toxicity, graft vs host disease, bile duct pathology, or hepatic vein/artery pathology, in addition to recurrent PBC. Liver biopsy is essential for diagnosing recurrent PBC[128]. Diagnostic criteria for recurrent PBC include: (1) PBC was an indication for liver transplant (obligatory); (2) graft histopathology suggests recurrent PBC, including: epithelioid granulomas, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, formation of lymphoid aggregates, and bile duct damage; and (3) other causes of graft failure have been excluded. Recurrent PBC is definitively diagnosed when all 3 criteria are met, including the presence of at least 3 of the 4 histologic features in criterion 2. Recurrent PBC is likely diagnosed when only 2 histologic features in criterion 2 are present[128,132]. Anti-parietal cell antibodies may be a marker for recurrent PBC[135]. There are conflicting data about whether donor’s age, recipient’s age, cold ischemic time, warm ischemia time, number of HLA mismatches, and specific immunosuppressive regimens are risk factors for recurrence[136-140].

The appropriate therapy for recurrent PBC is unclear. UDCA has been advocated as a therapy[141,142]. Anecdotal evidence suggests improvement in serum biochemical parameters of liver function following UDCA administration. UDCA most likely acts in recurrent PBC just like it acts on the native liver before transplantation.

SYMPTOMATIC THERAPY

Fatigue

Fatigue occurs in up to 70% of patients[55]. It is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and autonomic dysfunction. Cerebral structural abnormalities, related to excessive manganese deposits in the globus pallidum, may be a contributing factor[143-146]. Patients with fatigue had significantly higher serum levels of manganese[143], and increased manganese deposits in the brain, likely secondary to impaired biliary excretion. Other implicated factors include elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF)[147], elevated progesterone levels[148,149], and impaired peripheral muscle function[150,151]. Fatigue at clinical presentation may be associated with an aggressive clinical course, rapid progression to cirrhosis, and poor response to UDCA[61].

Fatigue severity is measured according to the fatigue impact scale (FIS)[152] or PBC-40 (PBC-40 question profile)[153]. The FIS is a detailed and cumbersome tool, which takes approximately 3 min to complete in a non-fatigued person, but may take considerably more time in severely fatigued patients. There are 40 items on the scale, each of which is scored from 0 (no problem) to 4 (extreme problem), providing a continuous scale score of 0-160[154].

There is no specific treatment for the fatigue. Some data suggest that modafinil improves fatigue symptoms in PBC patients, without major side effects[155], but it is currently not approved by the FDA for this indication. Randomized, prospective studies are needed to establish efficacy. Some PBC patients experience a symptom complex of fatigue, symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, and social and emotional dysfunction[156]. Various agents such as ondansteron, fluoxetine, and antioxidants have been studied to ameliorate this fatigue, but none have demonstrated efficacy[147].

Pruritus

Pruritus from cholestasis is mostly generalized, associated with scratching, sometimes violent, and sleep deprivation. It may even lead to suicidal ideation in extreme cases[157]. Intensity of pruritus is not correlated with PBC severity[157]. Treatment of this pruritus involves a multifaceted, individualized approach. Proper skin care is essential. Patients with pruritus from liver disease do not have primary pruritic skin lesions. However, lesions secondary to scratching, including excoriations, and sometimes prurigo nodularis (formation of localized or generalized, eroded, excoriated, and intensely pruritic cutaneous nodules from the scratching) can occur[158]. Patients have difficulty avoiding scratching because the pain induced by the scratching often relieves the pruritus. Patients should be referred to a dermatologist to exclude primary skin diseases that can contribute to the pruritus. All potential pruritogens should be removed from the body. Cholestyramine is commonly used to treat this type of pruritis[159]. The mechanism of action of cholestyramine to relieve pruritus is incompletely understood. It is a non-absorbable resin that binds anions, including bile acids and cholesterol, in the small intestine thereby promoting their fecal excretion. Its side effects, most commonly bloating, are generally minor. Cholestyramine should be administered immediately before and after breakfast to bind pruritogens that accumulate in the gallbladder during an overnight fast and that are otherwise poured into the small bowel after breaking the overnight fast. Physical removal or plasma separation of pruritogens have been attempted to treat extreme, refractory pruritus. A transient relief from pruritus has been reported with anion adsorption and plasma separation[160], using extracorporeal liver support systems such as Prometheus or MARS (molecular adsorbent recirculating system[160-165]). Analysis of plasma removed via MARS from patients suffering from refractory pruritus revealed 60 proteins, one of which, SLURP1, was three times higher in samples extracted from patients with cholestasis than in those extracted from controls. Nasobiliary drainage can help relieve the pruritis by removing bile salts[166].

Pruritus may have a central component, and is associated with increased opioidergic tone[167]. Opioid antagonists, including naloxone and naltrexone, have been used to relieve the pruritus[157]. Treatment with opiate antagonists is initiated by progressively increasing the dose of intravenous infusion for several hours before introducing it orally to reduce the risk of opiate withdrawal[168-170]. If a patient exhibits signs of withdrawal during dosage increases, the dose can be maintained at the prior dose for a day or two with subsequent increases, until the pruritus is relieved.

Review of patient diaries in a clinical trial of PBC therapy revealed that sertraline was associated with relief of pruritus[171]. In a subsequent randomized, placebo-controlled study, sertraline was again associated with relief of pruritus, as determined by a visual analogue scale, and associated with improved skin appearance, as determined by physical examination[172].

Antibiotics have been used to treat the pruritus. In clinical trials, rifampicin has relieved pruritus in some patients with liver disease[173-175]. Rifampicin stimulates PXR, which induces drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters[176,177]. A meta-analysis of controlled, randomized clinical trials demonstrated that rifampicin was generally safe, but is occasionally hepatotoxic[178,179]. Thus, follow-up of serum tests of liver function is necessary when patients are initiated on this drug, and this drug should be stopped if drug hepatotoxicity is suspected. Metronidazole may ameliorate refractory pruritus in patients with PBC[180]. It is best used as short-term therapy because long-term administration can cause peripheral neuropathy[181].

Osteoporosis

Hepatic osteodystrophy refers to metabolic bone disease in patients with chronic liver disease[182]. PBC patients have a 20%-44% prevalence of osteoporosis. The prevalence increases with disease progression, and up to 80% of patients with cirrhosis have osteoporosis. As in the general population, risk factors for osteoporosis in PBC include old age, female gender, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, underweight physique (body mass index < 19.0 kg/m² in adults), early menopause (< 45 years of age), positive family history of osteoporosis, and corticosteroid therapy[182].

The mechanism of osteoporosis is unclear. PBC apparently produces metabolic changes that affect osteoprotegerin (OPG)-receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB - ligand (RANKL), the major mechanism of bone remodeling. Cirrhosis of any etiology, including PBC, impairs the function of osteoblasts, reduces the production of growth factors (especially insulin-like growth factor-1), and increases the synthesis of oncofoetal fibronectin. Unconjugated bilirubin and lithocholic acid, which accumulate in cirrhosis, may be directly toxic to bone precursors and osteoblasts. This subject has been extensively reviewed by Raszeja-Wyszomirska et al[182]. Malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, especially of vitamins D and K, could also increase the risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is diagnosed by dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans of lumbar spine and femur. These scans should be performed at disease diagnosis with surveillance annually thereafter according to EASL guidelines or surveillance every 2-3 years as per AASLD guidelines[27].

Treatment guidelines for the osteoporosis is not established. Treatment is begun at an early phase (DEXA score: -1 SD to -2.5 SD). Patients should be advised about lifestyle modifications[183], including regular weight-bearing exercises, avoidance of smoking, alcohol, etc. Patients should be prescribed calcium at 1000-1500 mg/d and vitamin D at 400-800 IU/d. Bisphosphonates, particularly alendronate, are commonly administered. Alendronate at 70 mg/wk significantly improves bone mineral density after 1 year of therapy[184]. Patients should not lie down for at least 30 min after ingesting alendronate to avoid esophageal reflux or ulcers induced by this medication. In a pilot study, 9 patients administered raloxifene exhibited a slight increase in bone mineral density in the lumbar spine[185]. Therapies including zoledronic, ibandronic acid, anabolic therapy with strontium ranelate or recombinant human parathormone 1-34, and denosumab-IgG2 monoclonal antibody against RANKL have not been studied for osteoporosis in PBC.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Associated autoimmune disorders

Prevalence of autoimmune disorders associated with PBC ranges from 2% to 20%[44,186-190]. Sjogren’s syndrome and Raynaud’s syndrome are strongly associated with PBC[27]. Clinical symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome include ocular and oral dryness for > 3 mo, use of artificial tears > 3 times per day, and the need to drink liquids to swallow solid food. All PBC patients with suspicious symptoms should undergo Schirmer’s test, a highly specific test for Sjogren’s syndrome[191]. Patients with PBC should also undergo tests to exclude celiac disease, rheumatological disorders, and thyroid disease[192].

Management of Sjogren’s syndrome includes general measures to improve eye care, such as household humidification, use of artificial tears, including hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose, or cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion to increase tear production[193]. General measures to improve oral health include regular visits to the dentist, mouth rinsing with water, use of fluoride-containing toothpaste, daily dental flossing, and avoidance of eating sugars between meals[27]. Patients with xerostomia are prescribed saliva substitutes. Cholinergic agents, such as pilocarpine and cevimeline, are empirically used in Sjogren’s syndrome[194]. Cevimeline, a cholinergic agent with a high affinity for M3 muscarinic receptors, relieves the perception of dry mouth and decreases the need for artificial saliva[194]. Oral candidiasis, a complication of dry mouth, requires specific antifungal therapy. Care must be exercised when swallowing esophagotoxic pills, such as potassium supplements, tetracycline, or alendronate, because of the sicca syndrome and occasional esophageal dysmotility. Drinking plenty of water while in the upright position is helpful[27]. Patients with Sjogren’s syndrome may experience vaginal dryness. Vaginal lubricants, such as K-Y jelly or vaginal inserts, are helpful. Cortisone creams should be avoided. Estrogen preparations are recommended in postmenopausal women.

Pregnancy

A case control study of 267 pregnant patients with PBC and 367 healthy pregnant controls revealed that most PBC patients have uneventful pregnancies[195]. Up to 60% of patients develop post-partum flares[196]. UDCA is safe to administer during pregnancy in patients with pruritus (FDA pregnancy category B).

Hyperlipidemia

Complications of chronic cholestasis include osteoporosis (described above) and hyperlipidemia. The hyperlipidemia in PBC is, however, apparently not associated with adverse cardiovascular effects[60,197-199]. It is unusual for cholesterol-lowering agents to be needed, but statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) are a safe therapy, even when serum liver function tests are abnormal[200]. Fibrates have been used safely in some patients[201], but occasionally cause paradoxical elevations of serum cholesterol[202].

COMPLICATIONS FROM CIRRHOSIS FROM ADVANCED PBC

Patients with cirrhosis from advanced PBC are subject to all the usual complications of cirrhosis, including hepatoma development, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and esophageal variceal bleeding. The diagnosis and treatment of these complications are briefly listed in Table 5[126,189,203-222], which includes references for further reading on these complications.

Table 5.

Complications of cirrhosis or portal hypertension in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Complication	Special considerations in PBC	Ref.
Hepatoma	Like other cirrhotics, patients with PBC have increased risk of developing hepatomas	[189,203-205]
	In patients with PBC who have not undergone a liver biopsy to document the diagnosis of cirrhosis, hepatoma screening should be initiated when the Mayo score > 4.1	[126]
	Surveillance for hepatoma in patients with cirrhosis from PBC should be performed every six months by abdominal ultrasound or an alternative modality of abdominal imaging	[206]
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis	Diagnosed by abdominal paracentesis revealing > 250 polymorphonuclear leukocytes/mm3 in ascitic fluid	[207]
	Treated with a short course of multiple antibiotics, generally including either a third-generation cephalosporin or flouroquinolones	[208]
Hepatic encephalopathy	Diagnosed clinically by confusion, delirium, or stupor on physical examination, depending on degree of hepatic encephalopathy; possible presence of asterixis on physical examination; and elevated serum ammonia level in a cirrhotic patient	[209]
	Treatment options include rifaximin, lactulose, supportive care, and reversal of underlying precipitating causes, such as dehydration, infection, or gastrointestinal bleeding	[209-211]
HRS	Type 1 HRS defined as doubling of serum creatinine level, reaching a level > 2.5 mg/dL in < 2 wk. Type 2 HRS defined as a less severely elevated serum creatinine level. Must exclude other causes of renal failure, especially hypovolemia in both types of HRS	[212,213]
	Treatment includes avoidance of nephrotoxic medications; short-term trial of volume expansion; and administration of vasopressin analogues, such as terlipressin, and α-adrenergic agonists, such as norepinephrine or midodrine. Ultimate treatment for type 1 HRS refractory to therapy is liver transplantation	[213-215]
Esophageal varices	Usually occur only after Mayo score becomes > 4.1. Patients with advanced PBC can develop portal hypertension before developing established cirrhosis from nodular regenerative hyperplasia	[216-220]
	Esophageal varices usually diagnosed and graded by esophagogastroduodenoscopy
	Specific therapies for esophageal varices include: endoscopic banding, endoscopic injection therapy, and non-selective beta-blockers. Transjugular intrahepatic shunt is recommended for refractory variceal bleeding, especially when the MELD score < 18	[221,222]

PBC: Primary biliary cirrhosis; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease; HRS: Hepatorenal syndrome.

FUTURE TRENDS

The future of PBC promises to be exciting. Genetic, immunologic, and epidemiologic data should further elucidate the pathogenesis of PBC, especially in the era of genome-wide association studies and epigenetics. Such advances may help hepatologists screen and diagnose PBC early, to improve survival, and institute preventive measures to reduce exposure to environmental factors that accelerate the disease. New drugs with molecular targets, such as obeticholic acid and ustekinimab, show considerable promise. Great advances have recently been made in improving transplant-free survival and this trend should continue for the next several years. Also, the prognosis after transplantation should continue to improve with improved immunosuppression and surgical techniques. Future agents might reverse advanced fibrosis in PBC, thereby reducing complications from portal hypertension and cirrhosis.