title: Quantitative testing of liver function compared to prognostic scores in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganslmayer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deynet
authors.forename: Eckhart G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuppan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D024061:Collagen Type III; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000632:Aminopyrine; D013012:Sorbitol; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D001663:Bilirubin; D005690:Galactose