Prognostic factors and survival analysis of antimitochondrial antibody-positive primary biliary cirrhosis in Chinese patients.

Background And Aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a relatively uncommon liver disease, and information on the prognosis and survival of PBC patients in mainland China is lacking. We therefore conducted a retrospective study to investigate the prognostic factors and survival in Chinese PBC patients.

Methods: Between October 2001 and May 2009, patients registered at Beijing You'an Hospital with abnormal liver function and serum positivity for antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) and/or AMA-M2 (n = 391) were screened. Patients diagnosed with PBC were identified, and their medical data were reviewed and analyzed for mortality predictors.

Results: A total of 147 PBC patients were identified (mean age: 54 years, range: 28-81), of whom 126 (85.7%) were women. At the time of diagnosis, 119 patients (81.0%) were symptomatic, 28(19.0%) had hepatic decompensation, and no patients were asymptomatic. During a median follow-up period of 48 months (range: 2-312), 36 patients (24.5%) died or underwent liver transplantation, and 65 patients (44.2%) developed hepatic decompensation. The overall 5-year survival rate was 79%. Multivariate analysis indicated that Mayo risk score ≥6.11(P = 0.008), and serum IgG ≥ 17.20 g/l (P = 0.016) were associated with mortality.

Conclusions: Most Chinese PBC patients in this study were symptomatic at diagnosis and had significant mortality. Mayo risk score, and serum IgG were independent prognostic factors for survival.