357.1 ð é«åžçç
357.1.2 Subtypes
Type 1 (Most Common): - ANA + Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibody (ASMA, anti-actin) - Adults + children - Slowly progressive
Type 2: - Anti-LKM-1 (anti-liver-kidney microsome) - Anti-LC1 (anti-liver cytosol-1) - Pediatric (more common in children) - More aggressive
Type 3 (older classification): - Anti-SLA/LP (soluble liver antigen) - Now considered Type 1 variant
357.1.3 Clinical Presentation
- Asymptomatic (incidental LFT abnormality)
- Acute presentation (ALT > 1000 sometimes)
- Chronic presentation (fatigue, jaundice)
- Cirrhosis (~ 30% at diagnosis)
- Acute liver failure (rare)
- Extrahepatic: arthralgia, thyroiditis, T1DM, vitiligo, celiac
357.1.4 Diagnosis
Lab: - ALT/AST elevation - â IgG (specific) - ANA (most common autoantibody) - ASMA / anti-actin - Anti-LKM-1, anti-LC1 (Type 2) - Anti-SLA/LP
Scoring (Diagnostic): - Simplified IAIHG criteria - Composite: ANA/ASMA/LKM titers + IgG + biopsy + viral exclusion
Biopsy (Essential): - Interface hepatitis (lymphocytic infiltrate at portal-parenchymal interface) - Plasma cell infiltrate (often) - Lobular activity - Fibrosis staging
357.1.5 Treatment
Induction: - Prednisone 30-40 mg/d (or 60 mg if severe) - + Azathioprine 1-2 mg/kg (after 1-2 weeks) - Steroid-sparing approach with AZA after week 2
Alternative Initial: - Budesonide + AZA (less systemic steroid side effects) - For non-cirrhotic patients
Maintenance: - AZA monotherapy 1-2 mg/kg - Long-term (years) - 50-70% achieve sustained remission
Refractory Cases: - MMF (mycophenolate mofetil) â increasing use - Tacrolimus - Rituximab - Infliximab (some) - Combination
TPMT Testing: - Before azathioprine - Risk of severe myelosuppression if deficient
357.1.6 Discontinuation
- After ⥠2-3 years complete remission
- Histological remission
- Trial taper
- Many relapse â restart
357.1.8 Epidemiology
- Female 9:1 (most strongly female-predominant liver disease)
- 40-60 yo typical onset
- Often subclinical for years
- Family clustering (genetic + environmental)
357.1.9 Pathophysiology
- T-cell mediated destruction of small + medium intrahepatic bile ducts
- Granulomatous inflammation
- Progressive cholestasis â cirrhosis
357.1.10 Clinical Presentation
- Often asymptomatic (incidental ALP elevation)
- Fatigue (classic, may be severe)
- Pruritus (cholestasis)
- Jaundice (later)
- Xanthomas (cholesterol)
- Sjögren-like dryness
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Osteoporosis (cholestasis)
- Eventually cirrhosis with complications
357.1.11 Associated Conditions
- Sjögren syndrome (most common)
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- Celiac disease
- Raynaud, scleroderma, CREST
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- ITP
357.1.12 Diagnosis
Lab: - ALP + GGT elevated (cholestatic) - ALT, AST less prominent - AMA (anti-mitochondrial antibody, M2 subtype) â 95% positive â highly specific - ANA (50%+) â anti-Sp100, anti-gp210 specific patterns - â IgM (often)
Biopsy (Confirmatory): - Florid duct lesion + granulomas - Bile duct loss - Fibrosis staging (Ludwig 1-4)
357.1.13 Treatment
Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) â First-Line: - 13-15 mg/kg/d - Lifelong - Slows progression, improves survival - ~ 40% inadequate response
For Inadequate Response (POISE Trial Criteria): - Obeticholic acid (Ocaliva) â FXR agonist (FDA 2016) - 5-10 mg/d - For UDCA-inadequate response - Black box: hepatic decompensation in advanced cirrhosis - Side effects: pruritus (intense), fatigue - Bezafibrate â PPAR-α agonist (off-label, evidence-based) - Fenofibrate â alternative
NEW 2024 â Major Updates: - Elafibranor (Iqirvo) â PPAR α/ÎŽ dual agonist â FDA approval June 2024 for PBC - For inadequate UDCA response - â ALP + improved pruritus - ELATIVE trial - Seladelpar (Livdelzi) â PPAR ÎŽ selective â FDA approval August 2024 for PBC - â ALP + pruritus - RESPONSE trial
Symptom Management: - Pruritus: cholestyramine, rifampin, naltrexone (titrate), gabapentin, sertraline - Fatigue: limited; modafinil tried - Osteoporosis: bisphosphonates - Fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK)
Liver Transplant: - For end-stage - Excellent outcomes - Recurrence in transplanted liver possible (20-30%)
357.1.14 Epidemiology
- Male > female (2:1)
- 30-50 yo typical
- Strong UC association (75-90% of PSC have IBD)
- 5% of UC have PSC (more in males)
- Crohnâs colitis less commonly
357.1.15 Pathophysiology
- Idiopathic
- Chronic fibrosing inflammation of intrahepatic + extrahepatic bile ducts
- âOnion-skinâ periductal fibrosis
- Progressive cirrhosis
- Increased cholangiocarcinoma (10-15% lifetime risk)
- Increased gallbladder cancer
- Increased CRC if concurrent IBD
357.1.16 Clinical Presentation
- Often asymptomatic (LFT abnormality on screening UC)
- Fatigue + pruritus
- Jaundice + cholangitis episodes
- RUQ pain
- Hepatomegaly
- Eventually cirrhosis + portal hypertension
357.1.17 Diagnosis
Lab: - ALP elevated (often markedly) - Bilirubin variable (often elevated late) - ALT/AST elevation - pANCA (60-80%) - No specific autoantibody like PBC
Imaging: - MRCP (gold standard non-invasive): multifocal strictures + dilations = âbeadingâ of bile ducts - ERCP: similar findings; therapeutic for dominant strictures - Liver biopsy: less critical with MRCP advances
357.1.18 Treatment
No Effective Disease-Modifying Therapy: - UDCA standard dose may help (limited evidence) - High-dose UDCA (28-30 mg/kg) â harmful (per UDCA-PSC trial) - Steroids not effective (unlike AIH overlap) - Antibiotics for cholangitis - Vancomycin oral (some pediatric evidence)
Symptomatic + Procedural: - ERCP with stenting / dilation for dominant strictures - Pruritus management - Surveillance for cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma Surveillance: - Lifelong - Annual MRCP + CA 19-9 - Difficult to diagnose; high mortality
Colon Cancer Surveillance: - For PSC + IBD - Annual colonoscopy - High risk
Liver Transplant: - For end-stage or cholangiocarcinoma (in select centers, transplant with neoadjuvant therapy â Mayo protocol) - Recurrence in transplanted liver possible (30%+)
357.1.21 Sjögren + PBC
- Common combination
- Multidisciplinary
357.1.21.0.2 Differential
- Viral hepatitis (B, C)
- ALD / MASLD
- Drug-induced
- Wilson disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin
- Hereditary cholestasis
357.1.21.1 𩺠åºé鿥
- AIH: F > M; ANA + ASMA + â IgG; interface hepatitis + plasma cells; prednisone + azathioprine
- PBC: F 9:1; AMA 95% + ALP/GGT elevated; UDCA 13-15 mg/kg lifelong; obeticholic acid, elafibranor + seladelpar FDA 2024 for inadequate
- PSC: M > F; UC association 75-90%; MRCP âbeadingâ; pANCA; no effective medical therapy except UDCA modest; cholangiocarcinoma risk 10-15%
- Overlap syndromes: AIH-PBC, AIH-PSC
- IgG4-related cholangitis: mimics PSC, steroid-responsive
- Liver transplant for end-stage all three