Many patients remain at risk of disease progression, even with earlier treatment options1
PBC is a chronic, progressive, cholestatic autoimmune disease1
The rate of progression is highly variable and unique to each patient.2 If a patient isn't adequately responding to treatment, there is a high risk for cirrhosis, transplant, and even death.1
In a study of patients with PBC taking UDCA, nearly half (45.8%) progressed from biochemically early-stage to intermediate disease within 5 years.3
Patients with very high ALP at diagnosis, abnormal bilirubin, advanced fibrosis, or certain risk factors such as age, sex, and race are at higher risk of progression.1,4,5
Up to 50% of patients have inadequate response to first-line treatment with UDCA; biochemical response to treatment can predict the risk and speed of progression.4,6
Frequent assessment of treatment response and disease progression is key to a proactive treatment plan1,2,7
Implementing a disease management plan immediately may help to mitigate further disease progression1,4
- A 3-month routine monitoring cadence is advised based on AASLD guidelines2
- Response to treatment should be evaluated every 6 months, as ALP levels above 1.67 x ULN are correlated with negative outcomes8
- Frequent monitoring and scheduling of follow-up assessments can be reliably determined by the unique risk profile of each patient4
AASLD=American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; ALP=alkaline phosphatase; PBC=primary biliary cholangitis; UDCA=ursodeoxycholic acid; ULN=upper limit of normal.
References: 1. European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: the diagnosis and management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis. J Hepatol. 2017;67(1):145-172. 2. Lindor KD, Bowlus CL, Boyer J, et al. Primary biliary cholangitis: 2018 practice guidance from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 2019;69(1):394-419. 3. Gatselis NK, Goet JC, Zachou K, et al; Global Primary Biliary Cholangitis Study Group. Factors associated with progression and outcomes of early stage primary biliary cholangitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(3):684-692. 4. Hirschfield GM, Chazouillères O, Cortez-Pinto H, et al. A consensus integrated care pathway for patients with primary biliary cholangitis: a guideline-based approach to clinical care of patients. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;15(8):929-939. 5. Corpechot C, Heurgue A, Tanne F, et al. Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary biliary cholangitis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2022;46(1):101770. 6. Montano-Loza AJ, Corpechot C. Definition and management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis and an incomplete response to therapy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;19(11):2241-2251.e1. 7. Hirschfield GM, Dyson JK, Alexander GJM, et al. The British Society of Gastroenterology/UK-PBC primary biliary cholangitis treatment and management guidelines. Gut. 2018;67(9):1568-1594. 8. Kowdley KV, Bowlus CL, Levy C, et al. Application of the latest advances in evidence-based medicine in primary biliary cholangitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023;118(2):232-242.