Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a slowly progressive autoimmune liver disease that, if not promptly and appropriately treated, can lead to significant morbidity, mortality, and a substantial decline in patients' quality of life. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the first-line therapy; however, up to 40% of patients exhibit an inadequate response. For these individuals, 2 US Food and Drug Administration-approved second-line therapies are currently available, which not only demonstrate biochemical efficacy but may also alleviate pruritus as well as fatigue, thereby potentially enhancing quality of life. Ongoing research is focused on developing additional therapeutic options for patients with PBC. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of existing and emerging PBC treatments that may mitigate disease progression and improve patient outcomes.
Buchanan-Peart et al. (Sat,) studied this question.