Quantitative testing of liver function compared to prognostic scores in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a slowly progressive liver disease which can lead to cirrhosis. We investigated if quantitative tests of liver function (QTLF) and serum levels of a surrogate marker of hepatic fibrogenesis (PIIINP) provide information in addition to established prognostic scores.


METHODS
In 34 PBC patients PIIINP, PBC-relevant parameters, histological staging and QTLF at entry and at 2 years were determined and compared with the Christensen (CPS I, CPS II) and Mayo prognosis score. QTLF included aminopyrine breath test, galactose elimination capacity, sorbitol and indocyanine green clearance.


RESULTS
Bilirubin, serum IgM and PIIINP were elevated at both time points, whereas albumin and prothrombin time remained normal. Clinical findings (ascites, cirrhosis, central cholestasis) and histological staging worsened after 2 years, as did the CPS II. However, QTLF, PIIINP, CPS I and the Mayo score revealed no significant changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Only CPS II changed after 2 years, whereas CPS I and the Mayo score remained unaltered. QTLF and PIIINP did not provide any further information on progression of PBC, suggesting that QTLF cannot predict prognosis of PBC patients in a two-year interval and that CPS II is superior to CPS I and the Mayo score in short-term studies for PBC.
Herold
Christoph
C
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany.
Ganslmayer
Marion
M
Deynet
Christine
C
Hahn
Eckhart G
EG
Schuppan
Detlef
D
D000632:Aminopyrine; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001944:Breath Tests; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000378:metabolism; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000378:metabolism
D024061:Collagen Type III; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000632:Aminopyrine; D013012:Sorbitol; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D001663:Bilirubin; D005690:Galactose