Cyclosporin A treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis: results of a long-term placebo controlled trial

Mechanisms and molecules: What are the treatment targets for primary biliary cholangitis?

Treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is not always sufficient to prevent progression to hepatic decompensation and/or need for liver transplant. Adjuvant therapy with obeticholic acid may provide additional biochemical improvements in some patients, but it is not well-tolerated by patients with significant itch or advanced cirrhosis. Thus, new and creative approaches to treating patients with PBC are important to identify. This review discusses major potential therapeutic targets in PBC and provides examples of some specific agents currently in development for the treatment of PBC. Targets are broadly classified into those which strive to modify bile, inflammation, cell survival, or fibrosis. In bile, shrinking the size of the bile acid pool or modifying the quality of the bile by making it more hydrophilic or enriched in phosphatidylcholine may ameliorate cholestatic injury. Biliary epithelial cell survival may be extended by fortifying the bicarbonate umbrella or improving cell membrane integrity. Autoimmunity and cholangitis have the potential to be improved via regulation of the immune system. Targeting cytokines, immune checkpoints, and anti-mitochondrial antibodies are examples of a more focused immunosuppression approach. Stem cell therapy and lymphocyte trafficking inhibition are more novel methods of broad immune regulation. Anti-fibrotic therapies are also potentially useful for preventing progression of PBC. The nuclear hormone receptors, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) regulate many of these pathways: cholestasis, inflammation, and fibrosis, which is why they are being enthusiastically pursued as potential therapeutic targets in PBC.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors Regulate Hepatic Immunity and Assist in the Treatment of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Fibrates, which are agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, have received increasing attention in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis. Reduced alkaline phosphatase levels and improved clinical outcomes were observed in patients with primary biliary cholangitis with an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) monotherapy4 when treated with bezafibrate or fenofibrate combined with UDCA. In contrast to obeticholic acid, which exacerbates pruritus in patients, fibrates have been shown to relieve pruritus. Clinical trial outcomes show potential for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis by targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. It is currently agreed that primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune-mediated cholestatic liver disease, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor is a nuclear receptor that regulates the functions of multiple immune cells, thus playing an important role in regulating innate and adaptive immunity. Therefore, this review focuses on the immune disorder of primary biliary cholangitis and summarizes the regulation of hepatic immunity when peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are targeted for treating primary biliary cholangitis.

Principled selection of baseline covariates to account for censoring in randomized trials with a survival endpoint

The analysis of randomized trials with time-to-event endpoints is nearly always plagued by the problem of censoring. In practice, such analyses typically invoke the assumption of noninformative censoring. While this assumption usually becomes more plausible as more baseline covariates are being adjusted for, such adjustment also raises concerns. Prespecification of which covariates will be adjusted for (and how) is difficult, thus prompting the use of data-driven variable selection procedures, which may impede valid inferences to be drawn. The adjustment for covariates moreover adds concerns about model misspecification, and the fact that each change in adjustment set also changes the censoring assumption and the treatment effect estimand. In this article, we discuss these concerns and propose a simple variable selection strategy designed to produce a valid test of the null in large samples. The proposal can be implemented using off-the-shelf software for (penalized) Cox regression, and is empirically found to work well in simulation studies and real data analyses.

Inclusion body myositis: clinical features and pathogenesis

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is often viewed as an enigmatic disease with uncertain pathogenic mechanisms and confusion around diagnosis, classification and prospects for treatment. Its clinical features (finger flexor and quadriceps weakness) and pathological features (invasion of myofibres by cytotoxic T cells) are unique among muscle diseases. Although IBM T cell autoimmunity has long been recognized, enormous attention has been focused for decades on several biomarkers of myofibre protein aggregates, which are present in <1% of myofibres in patients with IBM. This focus has given rise, together with the relative treatment refractoriness of IBM, to a competing view that IBM is not an autoimmune disease. Findings from the past decade that implicate autoimmunity in IBM include the identification of a circulating autoantibody (anti-cN1A); the absence of any statistically significant genetic risk factor other than the common autoimmune disease 8.1 MHC haplotype in whole-genome sequencing studies; the presence of a marked cytotoxic T cell signature in gene expression studies; and the identification in muscle and blood of large populations of clonal highly differentiated cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells that are resistant to many immunotherapies. Mounting evidence that IBM is an autoimmune T cell-mediated disease provides hope that future therapies directed towards depleting these cells could be effective.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Cholestatic liver diseases encompass a broad spectrum of pathologies, with the core injury occurring at the level of cholangiocytes and progressing to hepatic fibrosis and liver dysfunction. Primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis are the most significant progressive cholangiopathies in adults. Although rare, they commonly evolve to liver failure and need for liver transplantation. Despite recent advances in the basic knowledge of these cholangiopathies, the pathogenesis is still elusive. Targeted treatments to prevent disease progression and to preclude malignancy are not yet available. This review will address the general clinical features of both diseases, analyze their commonalities and differences, and provide a state-of-the art overview of the currently available therapeutics.

Goodness of fit tests for estimating equations based on pseudo-observations

We study regression models for mean value parameters in survival analysis based on pseudo-observations. Such parameters include the survival probability and the cumulative incidence in a single point as well as the restricted mean life time and the cause-specific number of years lost. Goodness of fit techniques for such models based on cumulative sums of pseudo-residuals are derived including asymptotic results and Monte Carlo simulations. Practical examples from liver cirrhosis and bone marrow transplantation are also provided.

Diagnosis and Management of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, cholestatic, autoimmune disease with a variable progressive course. PBC can cause debilitating symptoms including fatigue and pruritus and, if left untreated, is associated with a high risk of cirrhosis and related complications, liver failure, and death. Recent changes to the PBC landscape include a name change, updated guidelines for diagnosis and treatment as well as new treatment options that have recently become available. Practicing clinicians face many unanswered questions when managing PBC. To assist these healthcare providers in managing patients with PBC, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Institute for Clinical Research & Education, in collaboration with the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), organized a panel of experts to evaluate and summarize the most current and relevant peer-reviewed literature regarding PBC. This, combined with the extensive experience and clinical expertise of this expert panel, led to the formation of this clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of PBC.

Pharmacological interventions for primary biliary cholangitis: an attempted network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Primary biliary cholangitis (previously primary biliary cirrhosis) is a chronic liver disease caused by the destruction of small intra-hepatic bile ducts resulting in stasis of bile (cholestasis), liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. The optimal pharmacological treatment of primary biliary cholangitis remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the comparative benefits and harms of different pharmacological interventions in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis through a network meta-analysis and to generate rankings of the available pharmacological interventions according to their safety and efficacy. However, it was not possible to assess whether the potential effect modifiers were similar across different comparisons. Therefore, we did not perform the network meta-analysis, and instead, assessed the comparative benefits and harms of different interventions using standard Cochrane methodology.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2017, Issue 2), MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and randomised controlled trials registers to February 2017 to identify randomised clinical trials on pharmacological interventions for primary biliary cholangitis.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included only randomised clinical trials (irrespective of language, blinding, or publication status) in participants with primary biliary cholangitis. We excluded trials which included participants who had previously undergone liver transplantation. We considered any of the various pharmacological interventions compared with each other or with placebo or no intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and rate ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using both fixed-effect and random-effects models based on available-participant analysis with Review Manager 5. We assessed risk of bias according to Cochrane, controlled risk of random errors with Trial Sequential Analysis, and assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 74 trials including 5902 participants that met the inclusion criteria of this review. A total of 46 trials (4274 participants) provided information for one or more outcomes. All the trials were at high risk of bias in one or more domains. Overall, all the evidence was low or very low quality. The proportion of participants with symptoms varied from 19.9% to 100% in the trials that reported this information. The proportion of participants who were antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) positive ranged from 80.8% to 100% in the trials that reported this information. It appeared that most trials included participants who had not received previous treatments or included participants regardless of the previous treatments received. The follow-up in the trials ranged from 1 to 96 months.The proportion of people with mortality (maximal follow-up) was higher in the methotrexate group versus the no intervention group (OR 8.83, 95% CI 1.01 to 76.96; 60 participants; 1 trial; low quality evidence). The proportion of people with mortality (maximal follow-up) was lower in the azathioprine group versus the no intervention group (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.98; 224 participants; 2 trials; I2 = 0%; low quality evidence). However, it has to be noted that a large proportion of participants (25%) was excluded from the trial that contributed most participants to this analysis and the results were not reliable. There was no evidence of a difference in any of the remaining comparisons. The proportion of people with serious adverse events was higher in the D-penicillamine versus no intervention group (OR 28.77, 95% CI 1.57 to 526.67; 52 participants; 1 trial; low quality evidence). The proportion of people with serious adverse events was higher in the obeticholic acid plus ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) group versus the UDCA group (OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.02 to 12.51; 216 participants; 1 trial; low quality evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in any of the remaining comparisons for serious adverse events (proportion) or serious adverse events (number of events). None of the trials reported health-related quality of life at any time point.

FUNDING

nine trials had no special funding or were funded by hospital or charities; 31 trials were funded by pharmaceutical companies; and 34 trials provided no information on source of funding.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Based on very low quality evidence, there is currently no evidence that any intervention is beneficial for primary biliary cholangitis. However, the follow-up periods in the trials were short and there is significant uncertainty in this issue. Further well-designed randomised clinical trials are necessary. Future randomised clinical trials ought to be adequately powered; performed in people who are generally seen in the clinic rather than in highly selected participants; employ blinding; avoid post-randomisation dropouts or planned cross-overs; should have sufficient follow-up period (e.g. five or 10 years or more); and use clinically important outcomes such as mortality, health-related quality of life, cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and liver transplantation. Alternatively, very large groups of participants should be randomised to facilitate shorter trial duration.

Optimal drug regimens for primary biliary cirrhosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective

Most comprehensive treatments for PBC include UDCA, combination of methotrexate (MTX), corticosteroids (COT), colchicine (COC) or bezafibrate (BEF), cyclosporin A (CYP), D-penicillamine (DPM), methotrexate (MTX), or azathioprine (AZP). Since the optimum treatment regimen remains inconclusive, we aimed to compare these therapies in terms of patient mortality or liver transplantation (MOLT) and adverse event (AE).

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials until August 2014. We estimated HRs for MOLT and ORs for AE. The sensitivity analysis based on dose of UDCA was also performed.

Results

The search identified 49 studies involving 12 different treatment regimens and 4182 patients. Although no statistical significance can be found in MOLT, COT plus UDCA was ranked highest for efficacy outcome amongst all the treatment regimes. While for AEs, compared with OBS or UDCA, monotherapy with COC (OR 5.6, P < 0.001; OR 5.89, P < 0.001), CYP (OR 3.24, P < 0.001; OR 3.42, P < 0.001), DPM (OR 8.00, P < 0.001; OR 8.45, P < 0.001) and MTX (OR 5.31, P < 0.001; OR 5.61, P < 0.001) were associated with statistically significant increased risk of AEs. No significant differences were found for other combination regimes. Effect estimates from indirect comparisons matched closely to estimates derived from pairwise comparisons. Consistently, in the sensitivity analysis, results closely resembled our primary analysis.

Conclusions

COT plus UDCA was the most efficacious among treatment regimens both for MOLT and AEs.

Therapeutic advances for primary biliary cholangitis: the old and the new

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, primary biliary cirrhosis) is an autoimmune cholestatic liver disease characterized by chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis and the presence of serum antimitochondrial antibodies. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat PBC. However, one-third of patients show incomplete responses to ursodeoxycholic acid and a poor prognosis. A number of old and new medications have been used in these patients, such as fibrates, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, obeticholic acid, mesenchymal stem cells, biological agents (anti-interleukin-12, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin, anti-CD20), and antifibrotic drugs. This article reviews the therapeutic advances of these old and new medications in patients with PBC.

Immunosuppressive therapy in immune-mediated liver disease in the non-transplanted patient

Autoimmune liver disease management goals are primarily slowing disease progression and symptomatic treatment. There are few options for curative medical management other than transplant for a spectrum of autoimmune liver disease that encompasses autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis as well as their overlap syndromes. These diseases are managed primarily with immunosuppressive therapy. Herein, we review the current literature, detailing the promise and pitfalls of the recommended immunosuppressive therapy for these challenging diseases.

Treatment of autoimmune liver disease: current and future therapeutic options

Autoimmune liver disease spans three predominant processes, from the interface hepatitis of autoimmune hepatitis to the lymphocytic cholangitis of primary biliary cirrhosis, and finally the obstructive fibrosing sclerotic cholangiopathy of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Although all autoimmune in origin, they differ in their epidemiology, presentation and response to immunosuppressive therapy and bile acid based treatments. With an ongoing better appreciation of disease aetiology and pathogenesis, treatment is set ultimately to become more rational. We provide an overview of current and future therapies for patients with autoimmune liver disease, with an emphasis placed on some of the evidence that drives current practice.

Is there a role for cyclophilin inhibitors in the management of primary biliary cirrhosis?

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are poorly understood autoimmune liver diseases. Immunosuppression is used to treat AIH and ursodeoxycholic acid is used to slow the progression of PBC. Nevertheless, a proportion of patients with both disorders progress to liver failure. Following liver transplantation, up to a third of patients with PBC experience recurrent disease. Moreover a syndrome referred to as "de novo AIH" occurs in a proportion of patients regardless of maintenance immunosuppression, who have been transplanted for disorders unrelated to AIH. Of note, the use of cyclosporine A appears to protect against the development of recurrent PBC and de novo AIH even though it is a less potent immunosuppressive compared to tacrolimus. The reason why cyclosporine A is protective has not been determined. However, a virus resembling mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been characterized in patients with PBC and AIH. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the protective effect of cyclosporine A in liver transplant recipients may be mediated by the antiviral activity of this cyclophilin inhibitor. Treatment of the MMTV producing MM5MT cells with different antivirals and immunosuppressive agents showed that both cyclosporine A and the analogue NIM811 inhibited MMTV production from the producer cells. Herein, we discuss the evidence supporting the role of MMTV-like human betaretrovirus in the development of PBC and de novo AIH and speculate on the possibility that the agent may be associated with disease following transplantation. We also review the mechanisms of how both cyclosporine A and NIM811 may inhibit betaretrovirus production in vitro.

Natural history and management of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly targets the cholangiocytes of the interlobular bile ducts in the liver. It is a rare disease with prevalence of less than one in 2000. Its prevalence in developing countries is increasing presumably because of growth in recognition and knowledge of the disease. PBC is thought to result from a combination of multiple genetic factors and superimposed environmental triggers. The contribution of the genetic predisposition is evidenced by familial clustering. Several risk factors, including exposure to infectious agents and chemical xenobiotics, have been suggested. Common symptoms of the disease are fatigue and pruritus, but most patients are asymptomatic at first presentation. The prognosis of PBC has improved because of early diagnosis and use of ursodeoxycholic acid, the only established medical treatment for this disorder. When administered at adequate doses of 13–15 mg/kg/day, up to two out of three patients with PBC may have a normal life expectancy without additional therapeutic measures. However, some patients do not respond adequately to ursodeoxycholic acid and might need alternative therapeutic approaches.

The diagnosis and treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease of autoimmune etiology. The initial presentation of PBC is various from asymptomatic, abnormal liver biochemical tests to overt cirrhosis. The diagnosis of PBC is based on cholestatic biochemical liver tests, presence of antimitochondrial antibody and histologic findings of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. Although the diagnosis is straightforward, it could be underdiagnosed because of its asymptomatic presentation, or underrecognition of the disease. UDCA in a dose of 13-15 mg/kg is the widely approved therapy which can improve the prognosis of patients with PBC. However, one-third of patients does not respond to UDCA therapy and may require liver transplantation. Every effort to diagnose PBC in earlier stage and to develop new therapeutic drugs and clinical trials should be made.

Primary biliary cirrhosis: a 2010 update

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly targets the cholangiocytes of the interlobular bile ducts in the liver. The condition primarily affects middle-aged women. Without treatment, PBC generally progresses to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure over a period of 10-20 years. PBC is a rare disease with prevalence of less than 1/2000. PBC is thought to result from a combination of multiple genetic factors and superimposed environmental triggers. The contribution of the genetic predisposition is evidenced by the familial clustering. Several risk factors, including exposure to infectious agents and chemical xenobiotics, have been suggested. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is currently the only FDA-approved medical treatment for PBC. When administered at doses of 13-15 mg/kg/day, a majority of patients with PBC have a normal life expectancy without additional therapeutic measures. One out of three patients does not adequately respond to UDCA therapy and may need additional medical therapy and/or liver transplantation. This review summarises current knowledge on the epidemiology, ethiopathogenesis, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of PBC.

Bezafibrate treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis following incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid

BACKGROUND AND GOALS

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only current pharmacologic treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, some patients show persistent liver biochemical abnormalities even after 6 to 12 months treatment. Bezafibrate retard is a commonly used medication for hyperlipidemia. In Japanese studies, it was found to lower liver enzyme levels, apparently through its action on multiple drug resistance gene 3, a transport element of the ATP-dependent bile secretion system, and on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding bezafibrate to the treatment regimen in patients with PBC and a partial response to UDCA.

STUDY

The study group included 8 White patients, 7 women and 1 man, aged 52 to 76 years with PBC who had been treated at our Liver Institute with UDCA (900 mg/d to 1500 mg/d) for 2 to 11 years (mean, 5.7 y) with only a partial response (19% to 56% reduction in alkaline phosphatase level). Bezafibrate (400 mg/d) was added to UDCA and the patients were followed for 4 to 12 months.

RESULTS

Alkaline phosphatase levels (normal range, 35 to 104 U/L) decreased in all patients, from 140 to 360 U/L (mean, 201.2) to 68 to 158 U/L (mean, 98.4), and normalized in 6 patients. In addition, levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (normal range, 6 to 42 U/L) decreased from 70 to 192 U/L (mean, 130) to 41 to 122 U/L (mean, 71.8). These findings were maintained throughout follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy with bezafibrate and UDCA improves the biochemical profile of patients with PBC who respond only partially to UDCA. A larger controlled study is needed to evaluate the clinical implications of these findings.

Pharmacological treatment of biliary cirrhosis with ursodeoxycholic acid

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a cholestatic liver disease that at one time was the leading indication for liver transplantation. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid has clearly improved the natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW

The treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis with a focus on ursodeoxycholic acid is covered. Papers related to treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis and associated conditions, using a variety of drugs but with a focus on ursodeoxycholic acid, are included. The papers reviewed date from 1984 - 2009.

WHAT WILL THE READER GAIN

The reader will gain an up-to-date understanding of current treatment strategies for primary biliary cirrhosis using ursodeoxycholic acid and an appreciation of what conditions are improved with this therapy and what associated conditions are not.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

Ursodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 13 - 15 mg/kg/day should be considered in all patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who have abnormal liver enzymes.

Effect of cyclosporine on blood pressure

BACKGROUND

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive agent used for different autoimmune diseases. The official Canadian indications for cyclosporine are solid organ transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and nephritic syndrome (e-CPS 2008). The expanding range of indications for cyclosporine therapy will lead to more patients receiving chronic therapy with possible side effects, hypertension being one of the most common. Therefore it is essential to know the magnitude of increase of blood pressure (BP) associated with cyclosporine in order to appropriately manage patients receiving the drug.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of cyclosporine on blood pressure, compared to placebo in randomized trials.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE (2000-2008) and EMBASE (1980-2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection was made using double-blind, randomized, controlled trials comparing cyclosporine to placebo. All patients treated with cyclosporine were included without restriction by type of disease or by age and sex.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Blood pressure measurements in any setting and by any means were acceptable including the auscultatory or oscillometric method with a preference for the sitting position. Mean blood pressure results were entered as mean change from placebo and standard error of the mean (SEM). If blood pressure data was provided at different times after the initiation of cyclosporine therapy the weighted mean BP change from placebo from all measurements was used.

MAIN RESULTS

The search yielded 1340 citations, of which 17 trials met the inclusion criteria. We created dose-ranges according to the usual dose administration recommended by the manufacturer and allocated the 17 included trials to the corresponding dose-range. The results demonstrate a highly statistically significant increase in blood pressure associated with cyclosporine. There appears to be a dose-related effect with lower doses (1-4 mg/kg/d) increasing mean BP by an average of 5 mmHg and higher doses (>10 mg/kg/d) increasing mean BP by 11 mmHg on average. Furthermore in 3 trials the effect appears to be similar after a single dose as with chronic therapy.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Cyclosporine statistically significantly increases blood pressure compared to placebo in a dose-related fashion. The magnitude of increase in blood pressure is clinically significant and increases the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and other adverse cardiovascular events associated with elevated BP. Consequently prescribers should try to find the lowest effective dose in all patients receiving cyclosporine chronically.

Recurrent nonviral liver disease following liver transplantation

Recurrent disease after liver transplantation is well recognized and remains a potential cause of premature graft loss. The rates of recurrence are difficult to establish because of the lack of consistency in diagnostic criteria and approaches to diagnosis. Owing to the fact that recurrent parenchymal disease may occur in the presence of normal liver tests, those centers that use protocol biopsies will report greater rates of recurrence. It is important to recognize that rates of recurrence vary according to indication and show little correlation with rates of graft loss from recurrent disease. Recurrance rates are greatest for primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis, and low reccurrance rates are reported for alcoholic liver disease and recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis. The impact of recurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is not yet clear. Patients and clinicians need to be aware of the possibility of recurrent disease in the differential diagnosis of abnormal liver tests, and management stategies may require alteration to reduce the impact of disease recurrence on outcome. Finally, an understanding of which diseases do recur after transplantation and identification of the risk factors may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these conditions.

Management of autoimmune and cholestatic liver disorders

The management of autoimmune and cholestatic liver disorders is a challenging area of hepatology. Autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases represent a comparatively small proportion of hepatobiliary disorders, yet their appropriate management is of critical importance for patient survival. In this article, management strategies are discussed, including the indications and expectations of pharmacologic therapy, endoscopic approaches, and the role of liver transplantation.

Checking hazard regression models using pseudo-observations

Graphical methods for model diagnostics are an essential part of the model fitting procedure. However, in survival analysis, the plotting is always hampered by the presence of censoring. Although model specific solutions do exist and are commonly used, we present a more general approach that covers all the models using the same framework. The pseudo-observations enable us to calculate residuals for each individual at each time point regardless of censoring and provide methods for simultaneously checking all the assumptions of both the Cox and the additive model. We introduce methods for single as well as multiple covariate cases and complement them with corresponding goodness-of-fit tests. The methods are illustrated on simulated as well as real data examples.

Current status of therapy in autoimmune liver disease

Therapeutic strategies for autoimmune liver diseases are increasingly established. Although proportionately uncommon, specialist centers have with time refined the best approaches for each disease, based on an improved understanding of the spectrum of presentation. The major treatment aims are to prevent end-stage liver disease and its associated complications. As a result of drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid, predniso(lo)ne and azathioprine, both primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis are now less commonly indications for liver transplantation. Unfortunately, the same inroads in treatment efficacy have as yet not been made for primary sclerosing cholangitis, although the recognition that a subset of patients may have a treatable secondary sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4 related) is helping a proportion. With better biological understanding, more specific interventions are expected that will benefit all those with autoimmune liver diseases.

Atorvastatin does not improve liver biochemistries or Mayo Risk Score in primary biliary cirrhosis

Statin treatment reduces hypercholesterolemia and may be anti-inflammatory. Case reports noted decreased alkaline phosphatase and histological improvement following statin treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of statin treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis. A retrospective analysis compared clinical and biochemical data from 15 hypercholesterolemic individuals with primary biliary cirrhosis who were treated long-term with atorvastatin with an age and gender matched, primary biliary cirrhosis control group. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (p < or = 0.002) was observed throughout atorvastatin treatment (median time 2.5 years). LDL-cholesterol levels in the control group were not significantly changed after 2 years (p > 0.050). No significant changes were noted in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and Mayo Risk Score in either group (p > 0.05). Long-term atorvastatin treatment reduced LDL-cholesterol in primary biliary cirrhosis, but there was no evidence of any anti-inflammatory effect.

Clinical features and management of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), which is characterized by progressive destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts, is not a rare disease since both prevalence and incidence are increasing during the last years mainly due to the improvement of case finding strategies. The prognosis of the disease has improved due to both the recognition of earlier and indolent cases, and to the wide use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). New indicators of prognosis are available that will be useful especially for the growing number of patients with less severe disease. Most patients are asymptomatic at presentation. Pruritus may represent the most distressing symptom and, when UDCA is ineffective, cholestyramine represents the mainstay of treatment. Complications of long-standing cholestasis may be clinically relevant only in very advanced stages. Available data on the effects of UDCA on clinically relevant end points clearly indicate that the drug is able to slow but not to halt the progression of the disease while, in advanced stages, the only therapeutic option remains liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation in primary biliary cirrhosis

The proportion of patients who undergo liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is steadily declining. This decline is partly from the increasing number of patients undergoing transplantation for other indications, but also perhaps because of the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on the natural history of this condition. Nevertheless, patients who have PBC still constitute approximately 11% of all patients undergoing transplantation for cirrhosis. The prognosis after transplantation is excellent, with an approximately 80% 5-year survival reported by most large centres. Liver transplantation also significantly improves quality of life in survivors. The disease may recur after surgery in up to one third of patients, but recurrence has not been shown to have a significant effect on patients' survival in the medium term.

Treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis: therapy with choleretic and immunosuppressive agents

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of presumed autoimmune etiology affecting predominantly middle-aged women; it is a slowly progressive disease causing loss of intrahepatic bile ducts, resulting in advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Many drugs have been studied for treatment, including agents with choleretic and immunosuppressive properties. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been evaluated most widely. After liver failure, the only effective treatment is liver transplantation. Effective therapy reduces the need for transplantation and improves life expectancy. For advanced liver disease or incomplete response to UDCA, new therapies to cure or retard the progression of disease in PBC are needed.

Cyclosporin A for primary biliary cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Cyclosporin A has been used for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, but the therapeutic responses in randomised clinical trials have been heterogeneous.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of cyclosporin A for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Relevant randomised clinical trials were identified by searching The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, The Chinese Biomedical Database, and LILACS, and manual searches of bibliographies to June 2006. We contacted authors of trials and the company producing cyclosporin A.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised clinical trials comparing cyclosporin A with placebo, no intervention, or another drug were included irrespective of blinding, language, year of publication, and publication status.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Our primary outcomes were mortality, and mortality or liver transplantation. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as relative risk (RR) and if appropriate, Peto odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). Continuous outcomes were reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) or standardised mean difference (SMD). We examined intervention effects by random-effects and fixed-effect models.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified three trials with 390 patients that compared cyclosporin A versus placebo. Two of them were assessed methodologically adequate with low-bias risk. Cyclosporin A did not significantly reduce mortality risk (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.45), and mortality or liver transplantation (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.20). Cyclosporin A significantly improved pruritus (SMD -0.38, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.14), but not fatigue. Cyclosporin A significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (WMD -41 U/L, 95% CI -63 to -18) and increased serum albumin level (WMD 1.66 g/L, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.05). Significantly more patients experienced adverse events in the cyclosporin A group than in the placebo group, especially renal dysfunction (Peto odds ratio 5.56, 95% CI 2.52 to 12.27) and hypertension (SMD 0.88, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.48).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence supporting or refuting that cyclosporin A may delay death, death or liver transplantation, or progression of primary biliary cirrhosis. Cyclosporin A caused more adverse events than placebo, like renal dysfunction and hypertension. We do not recommend the use of cyclosporin A outside randomised clinical trials.

Risk of lymphoma in primary biliary cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

A number of immunosuppressive therapies have not been associated with clinical benefit in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The use of more potent immunomodulatory therapies, however, could raise concerns over the risk of adverse effects such as the development of lymphoma. Therefore, we sought to describe the frequency, clinical spectrum, and outcomes among patients with PBC and a concomitant diagnosis of lymphoma.

METHODS

Patients with PBC evaluated at the Mayo Clinic between January 1, 1976-December 31, 1997 comprised the study cohort. Medical records were abstracted for demographic and clinical information including the temporal relationship between diagnoses and potential risk factors for lymphoma.

RESULTS

From a total of 2192 patients, the frequency of lymphoma was observed at 0.6% (13 cases). The majority of patients (54%) had PBC before they were diagnosed with lymphoma, whereas 23% of cases were diagnosed in conjunction with PBC. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (69%) was observed in most cases with disease involvement above the diaphragm (38%). Treatment in the form of chemotherapy (n = 3), radiation (n = 2), and surgery (n = 6) was provided for 11 patients. Seven (54%) patients did not have evidence for recurrent disease, whereas 3 (23%) patients died of progressive lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The baseline risk for lymphoma in patients with PBC is estimated at <1%. Clinical trials with potent immunosuppressive therapies for PBC should not be prohibited on the basis of concerns regarding a baseline predisposition for lymphoma in this population.

Basic immunosuppressive drugs outside solid organ transplantation

Immunosuppressive drugs are the backbone of solid organ transplantation. The introduction of new immunosuppressive drugs led to improved patient and organ survival rates. Nowadays, acute rejection can be reduced to a minimum. Individualization and avoidance of drug-related adverse effects became a new goal to achieve. The potency of immunosuppressive drugs makes them attractive for use in various autoimmune diseases; therefore, the experience on immunosuppressive drugs outside the field of organ transplantation is analysed in this review.

Options for treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic progressive cholestatic disease where there is progressive, granulomatous destruction of the middle-sized bile ducts. The disease affects mainly middle-aged women. The association with other autoimmune diseases and the widespread disturbance of the humoral and cellular immune systems has led to the inclusion of PBC as an autoimmune disease. However, there are several lines of evidence that suggest that both host and environmental factors are implicated in triggering the disease. Without a clear aetiology, it is difficult to find a logical approach to treatment. Well constructed clinical trials are difficult to run because of the variable and long natural history of the disease; and suitable endpoints are difficult to define and validated surrogate endpoints have not been defined. The only drug licensed for use is the bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid. This drug is associated with significant biochemical improvement and improvement in the immunological disturbances (including a reduction in the titre of the diagnostic autoantibody, antimitochondrial antibody), but the effect on survival and histological progression is still controversial. There is little effect on symptoms. Nonetheless, its safety and lack of toxicity have meant that it has become the drug of choice and most studies now assess the effect of additional treatments. Many other agents have been studied. There is some evidence, from prospective, controlled studies, for a beneficial effect of azathioprine and ciclosporin (cyclosporine); evidence for a beneficial effect of corticosteroids and of mycophenolate is limited and there is little firm evidence for a beneficial effect of methotrexate, penicillamine, thalidomide or colchicine. Other treatments being evaluated include fibric acid derivatives (fibrates), NSAIDs and leukotriene antagonists. Liver transplantation remains the only option for end-stage disease but recurrence of disease may be found in the graft. Experimental therapies include antiretroviral therapy. Symptomatic treatment is required for pruritus and the mainstays are the bile acid binding agents such as colestyramine. For those who are intolerant of the drug or where it is ineffective, rifampicin and naltrexone may be effective. There is no effective treatment for the associated lethargy.

[Primary biliary liver cirrhosis and overlap syndrome. Diagnosis and therapy]

Primary biliary cirrhosis represents a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology. It primarily affects females, is associated with extrahepatic immune-mediated syndromes, shows an immunogenetic association with HLA DR8, and displays serum autoantibodies, which makes an autoimmune etiology likely. The diagnosis is reached in patients with elevated alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and bilirubin levels who exhibit normal bile ducts upon ultrasound examination, and in whom specific antimitochondrial autoantibodies are detectable. Half of all PBC patients additionally show specific antinuclear autoantibodies. Immunosuppressive therapy is ineffective; steroids, transplant immunosuppressants, colchicine, d-penicillamine and methotrexate are of limited clinical benefit. Ursodeoxycholic acid has few side effects and leads to a biochemical response and a delay of disease progression in most cases. When ursodeoxycholic acid therapy is ineffective an overlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis can be present, which can respond to steroid treatment. The only curative option is liver transplantation which should be considered when bilirubin levels exceed 100 microM/l.