Sylvia Drazilova1, Ingrid Babinska2, Jakub Gazda3, Monika Halanova4, Martin Janicko3, Branislav Kucinsky3, Dominik Safcak3,5, Dominika Martinkova1, Lucia Tarbajova1, Anna Cekanova3, Peter Jarcuska3. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Poprad, Poprad, Slovakia. 2. Department of Epidemiology, PJ Safarik University, Faculty of Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia. ingrid.babinska@upjs.sk. 3. 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and L Pasteur University Hospital, PJ Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. 4. Department of Epidemiology, PJ Safarik University, Faculty of Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia. 5. Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Eastern Slovakia Institute of Oncology Kosice, PJ Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine both the incidence and the prevalence of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Eastern Slovakia and to describe its clinical course and the response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). METHODS: We recorded data of patients with PBC, who were followed up in gastroenterology and hepatology centers in Eastern Slovakia during the period from June 30, 1999, through June 30, 2019. RESULTS: The annual incidence of PBC varied from 0.7 to 1.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2014 and 2018. PBC prevalence steadily increased from initial 10.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 14.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in June 2019. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 56.3 ± 10.9 years. 95.7% of patients were females, and female/male gender ratio was 22.3:1. In June 2019, prevalence in the female population was 28 cases per 100,000 women. At the time of diagnosis, three-quarters of patients were symptomatic and 10% of patients had liver cirrhosis. The mean follow-up was 7.3 ± 5.2 years. Response to UDCA was observed in 72.1% of patients. Patients with higher baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, liver cirrhosis at entry or at the end of follow-up and women younger than 45 years responded worse to UDCA. One-quarter of patients had liver cirrhosis at the end of follow-up. During follow-up, 1.6% of patients underwent liver transplantation and 5.5% of patients died. Five-year and 10-year liver-related mortalities were 2.7% and 4.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PBC prevalence in Eastern Slovakia is increasing, and most of the patients respond to therapy with UDCA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine both the incidence and the prevalence of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Eastern Slovakia and to describe its clinical course and the response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). METHODS: We recorded data of patients with PBC, who were followed up in gastroenterology and hepatology centers in Eastern Slovakia during the period from June 30, 1999, through June 30, 2019. RESULTS: The annual incidence of PBC varied from 0.7 to 1.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2014 and 2018. PBC prevalence steadily increased from initial 10.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 14.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in June 2019. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 56.3 ± 10.9 years. 95.7% of patients were females, and female/male gender ratio was 22.3:1. In June 2019, prevalence in the female population was 28 cases per 100,000 women. At the time of diagnosis, three-quarters of patients were symptomatic and 10% of patients had liver cirrhosis. The mean follow-up was 7.3 ± 5.2 years. Response to UDCA was observed in 72.1% of patients. Patients with higher baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, liver cirrhosis at entry or at the end of follow-up and women younger than 45 years responded worse to UDCA. One-quarter of patients had liver cirrhosis at the end of follow-up. During follow-up, 1.6% of patients underwent liver transplantation and 5.5% of patientsdied. Five-year and 10-year liver-related mortalities were 2.7% and 4.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PBC prevalence in Eastern Slovakia is increasing, and most of the patients respond to therapy with UDCA.
Authors: Jakub Gazda; Martin Janicko; Sylvia Drazilova; Ivica Grgurevic; Tajana Filipec Kanizaj; Tomas Koller; Beatrica Bodorovska; Maja Mijic; Ivana Mikolasevic; Ivana Knezevic Stromar; Branislav Kucinsky; Matej Gazda; Peter Jarcuska Journal: Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2021-06-22