EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: The diagnosis and management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis

Gideon M Hirschfield, Ulrich Beuers, Christophe Corpechot, Pietro Invernizzi, David Jones, Marco Marzioni, Christoph Schramm, European Association For The Study Of The Liver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

369 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune cholestatic liver disease, which when untreated will culminate in end-stage biliary cirrhosis. Diagnosis is usually based on the presence of serum liver tests indicative of a cholestatic hepatitis in association with circulating antimitochondrial antibodies. Patient presentation and course can be diverse and risk stratification is important to ensure all patients receive a personalised approach to their care. The goals of treatment and management are the prevention of end-stage liver disease, and the amelioration of associated symptoms. Pharmacologic approaches in practice, to reduce the impact of the progressive nature of disease, currently include licensed therapies (ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid) and off-label therapies (fibric acid derivatives, budesonide). These clinical practice guidelines summarise the evidence for the importance of a structured, life-long and individualised, approach to the care of patients with PBC, providing a framework to help clinicians diagnose and effectively manage patients.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Hepatology
Early online date18 Apr 2017
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 18 Apr 2017

Bibliographical note

Currently e-pub (18th April).

Keywords

  • Care pathway
  • Liver
  • Guidelines
  • Cholestasis

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