Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and curative effect of 26 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC).Methods Clinical data of 26 patients with PBC including the clinical manifestations,laboratory tests,pathological findings and the response to therapy were analyzed retrospectively.Results Twenty patients were females(76.9%),and 6 were males(23.1%).The median age at diagnosis was 47 years(range: 36~76 years).The most common symptoms were jaundice(100%,26/26),followed by anaemia(84.6%,22/26),pruitus(69.2%,18/26),anorexia(65.4%,17/26) and fatigue(61.5%,16/26).Total bile acid(TBA),serum alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT) levels were obviously elevated in most patients [(128.7±94.9)μmol/L,(467.1±289.0)U/L,(476.8±469.1)U/L,respectively].Serum IgM levels were elevated in 17 patients(65.4%).Anti-mitochondrial antibody(AMA)/AMA-M2 were positive in 16 patients(61.5%).Nineteen patients underwent pathological examinations,with 47.4%(9/19) in early stage(stage Ⅰ～Ⅱ) and 52.6%(10/19) in advanced stage(stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ).All patients undertook the conventional therapy plus ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA),and the improvement rate was 88.5%.Conclusion PBC is subjective to occur in middle-aged women.Jaundice is the most common presentation and the biochemical test such as TBA,ALP,GGT and AMA are helpful in diagnosis.Liver biopsy is useful for confirming the diagnosis and differentiating histopathological stages.The conventional therapy of protecting liver function plus UDCA has achieved a effective result.