Clinical features in primary biliary cholangitis:A retrospective analysis of 67 cases

Objective Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease with unknown etiology. The purpose of this study is to summarize the clinical characteristics of PBC patients in Xiamen, China, hoping to increase our understanding of PBC and reduce clinical misdiagnosis. Methods The clinical data of 67 PBC patients admitted in department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2018 to June 2022 were collected retrospectively. SPSS16.0 software was used for data analysis. Results Of the 67 patients 9 were males and 58 were females. The ratio of female to male was 6.4:1. The average age was 64 years.Five patients(7.5%) had poor outcome such as primary hepatic carcinoma or hepatic failure. Gallbladder and bile duct diseas, thyroid disease and Sjogren syndrome(SS) were most common concomitant disease. Liver biopsy were performed in 32(47.8%) patients and 14 cases (20.9%) were diagnosed with PBC-AIH overlap syndrome(PBC-AIH OS). The positive rate of serum anti-mitochondrial antibody-M2(AMA-M2) and antinuclear antibody(ANA) were 82.1% and 71.6% respectively. The globulin,ALT,AST,IgG level and anti-SSA positive rate were higer in PBC-AIH OS group than in PBC group. The PLT and TBA level were statistically different between non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic groups.SSB and age are predictor for poor prognosis in PBC. Conclusion PBC is most common in middle-aged and elderly women. AMA-M2 and ANA are still key autoantibodies for diagnosis of PBC. Early diagnosis and standardized treatment are crucial for improving disease prognosis. The PLT and TBA levels are associated with progression of disease.SSB and age are risk factors for poor outcomes.