Portal hypertension and primary biliary cirrhosis: effect of long-term ursodeoxycholic acid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Portal hypertension can complicate primary biliary cirrhosis, but studies evaluating the direct measurement of the portohepatic gradient (PHG) are rare. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and prognostic value of portal hypertension in patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid.


METHODS
A total of 132 patients from a local "PBC clinic" were enrolled in this cohort study. The PHG and biochemical values were measured at inclusion and every 2 years. Factors associated with survival were analyzed.


RESULTS
Mean PHG at inclusion was 7.2 +/- 5.8 mm Hg. It was higher than normal (6 mm Hg) in 46 patients (34.9%) and higher than 12 mm Hg (variceal bleeding risk limit) in 26 patients (19.7%). There was a difference between the 3 subgroups in the probability of survival free of liver transplantation (P < .0003). After 2 years of treatment, a decreased or stable PHG (hazard ratio, 4.64; 95% confidence interval, 2.01-10.72) and normalization of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (hazard ratio, 2.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-8.05) were predictive of better survival on multivariate analysis. "Responders" (stable or improved PHG and normalized AST level at 2 years) have a 15-year survival similar to that of a control Quebec female population.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant portal hypertension is a common complication of primary biliary cirrhosis. Changes in the PHG and normalized AST level after 2 years of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment can be used to identify a subgroup of responders with survival comparable to that of a control population.
Huet
Pierre-Michel
PM
Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Saint-Luc, Montréal, Québec, Canada. pierre-michel.huet@orange.fr
Vincent
Catherine
C
Deslaurier
Julie
J
Coté
Jean
J
Matsutami
Shoichi
S
Boileau
Robert
R
Huet-van Kerckvoorde
Jacline
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases