Advances in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease mainly involving intrahepatic interlobular bile ducts and can progress to liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver failure. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first-line therapeutic drug for PBC and can delay disease progression, but as high as 40% of patients have suboptimal response to UDCA. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been approved by FDA in May 2016 for patients who have no response to UDCA treatment or cannot tolerate such treatment. Other drugs such as fibrates, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, biological agents, and mesenchymal stem cells are gradually used in clinical practice and bring new hope to patients with refractory PBC.