The Significance of Autoantibody Changes Over Time in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

In primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the antimitochondrial antibody is a cornerstone of diagnosis, but there have been conflicting reports about the correlation of autoantibodies with disease stage and prognosis. We studied whether autoantibody levels changed over time and sought correlations with clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with PBC.

Methods

We tested serial serum samples from patients with PBC at a research institution for several autoantibodies. Long-term clinical follow-up data were used to calculate the slopes (change over time) for autoantibodies, platelet count, Ishak fibrosis score, biopsy copper, and number of portal areas with bile ducts. An adverse clinical outcome was defined as hepatic decompensation, development of hepatocellular carcino

SUBMITTER: Tana MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5092169 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature