High prevalence of lower limb atherosclerosis is linked with the gut-liver axis in patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Hypercholesterolemia is frequent in people with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC); however, it does not seem to confer an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in PBC women and its association with the gut-liver axis and systemic inflammation.

Methods

Thirty patients affected by PBC and hypercholesterolemia were enrolled, with equal-sized groups of women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and healthy controls (CTRL). All patients underwent Doppler ultrasound examination of peripheral arteries, assessment of flow-mediated dilation, quantification of circulating cytokines and vasoactive mediators and characterization of the gut microbiota.

Results

PBC patients had a hi

SUBMITTER: Ponziani FR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10100232 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature