scholarly journals Cholestatic liver diseases: new targets, new therapies

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175628481878740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Santiago ◽  
Andrew R. Scheinberg ◽  
Cynthia Levy

Cholestatic liver diseases result from gradual destruction of bile ducts, accumulation of bile acids and self-perpetuation of the inflammatory process leading to damage to cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. If left untreated, cholestasis will lead to fibrosis, biliary cirrhosis, and ultimately end-stage liver disease. Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are the two most common chronic cholestatic liver diseases affecting adults, and their etiologies remain puzzling. While treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has significantly improved outcomes and prolonged transplant-free survival for patients with PBC, treatment options for UDCA nonresponders remain limited. Furthermore, there is no available medical therapy for PSC. With recent advances in molecular biochemistry specifically related to bile acid regulation and understanding of immunologic pathways, novel pharmacologic treatments have emerged. In this review, we discuss the standard of care and emphasize the various emerging treatments for PBC and PSC.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1763
Author(s):  
Marta Mazzetti ◽  
Giulia Marconi ◽  
Martina Mancinelli ◽  
Antonio Benedetti ◽  
Marco Marzioni ◽  
...  

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are two chronic cholestatic liver diseases affecting bile ducts that may progress to biliary cirrhosis. In the past few years, the increasing knowledge in the pathogenesis of both diseases led to a growing number of clinical trials and possible new targets for therapy. In this review, we provide an update on the treatments in clinical use and summarize the new drugs in trials for PBC and PSC patients. Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) agonists and Pan-Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) agonists are the most promising agents and have shown promising results in both PBC and PSC. Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 (FGF19) analogues also showed good results, especially in PBC, while, although PBC and PSC are autoimmune diseases, immunosuppressive drugs had disappointing effects. Since the gut microbiome could have a potential role in the pathogenesis of PSC, recent research focused on molecules that could change the microbiome, with good results. The near future of the medical management of these diseases may include new treatments or a combination of multiple drugs targeting different signaling pathways at different stages of the diseases.


1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1476-1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard J Worman

Abstract Molecular biology is making a tremendous impact on the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Methods such as the polymerase chain reaction are changing the way physicians diagnose and monitor patients with viral hepatitis. Assays based on recombinant protein antigens allow for detection of specific autoantibodies in diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis. The diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson disease, is being revolutionized by discovery of the defective genes involved and the development of methods to rapidly sequence DNA and identify mutations. Treatments and preventive measures are now possible with use of drugs and vaccines produced by recombinant DNA technology. Gene therapy and nucleic acid-based therapeutics are also realistic future treatment options for individuals with liver diseases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16081-e16081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camillo Porta ◽  
Vittorio D. Ferrari ◽  
Paolo Andrea Zucali ◽  
Giuseppe Fornarini ◽  
Antonio Bernardo ◽  
...  

e16081 Background: Sunitinib is a 1st-line standard of care in mRCC. Lack of cross-resistance to sequential VEGF-targeting drugs and the possibility of a successful rechallenge with Sunitinib have been postulated. Whether mRCC patients (pts) could benefit from rechallenge with Sunitinib after progressing on 1st-line Sunitinib and 2nd-line Everolimus was the aim of this phase II study Methods: 39 mRCCpts were prospectively treated with Sunitinib (50 mg/daily, 4:2); main inclusion criteria were: histologically proven RCC with clear cell component, previous 1st-line Sunitinib with a Disease Control Rate lasting at least 10 months, 2nd-line Everolimus, and written informed consent. The primary end-point of this study was 6-months progression-free survival (PFS). A Simon’s 2-stage design was used; after testing Sunitinib on 12 pts in the first stage, the trial would have been terminated if 5 or fewer had a PFS of less than 6 months. Otherwise, the trial would have proceeded to the second stage, enrolling a total of 38 pts. If the total number of pts free of progression at 6 months would have been less than or equal to 18, Sunitinib would have been rejected Results: As a whole, 39 pts (30 males, 9 females) were enrolled. The study quickly moved from the first stage to its completion and ultimately succeeded; indeed, 6-months PFS was 60%, median PFS being 8.6 months (average: 9.59, range: 0.7-24.6 months). In terms of safety no unexpected toxicities were observed. Tx-related grade 3-4 AEs observed in ≥5% of the pts were: hand-foot skin reaction, fatigue, nausea, hypertriglyceridemia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hyperglycemia, and neutropenia. One case each of myocardial infarction, atrial flutter and spontaneous pneumothorax were also reported, but resolved Conclusions: Despite an ineluctable time-lead-bias, median PFS on Sunitinib rechallenge was high (8.6 months), clearly showing that many pts may become sensitive again to VEGFRs-inhibition. Although many agents are presently available from 2nd-line on, in countries where treatment options are still limited, Sunitinib rechallenge could still represent a reasonable treatment option. EudraCT number: 2012-000473-23. Clinical trial information: 2012-000473-23.


2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (5) ◽  
pp. G407-G412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Schierwagen ◽  
Frank Erhard Uschner ◽  
Fernando Magdaleno ◽  
Sabine Klein ◽  
Jonel Trebicka

The evolution of chronic liver injuries from benign and manageable dysfunction to life threatening end-stage liver disease with severe complications renders chronic liver disease a global health burden. Because of the lack of effective medication, transplantation remains the only and final curative option for end-stage liver disease. Since the demand for organ transplants by far exceeds the supply, other treatment options are urgently required to prevent progression and improve end-stage liver disease. Statins are primarily cholesterol-lowering drugs used for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to the primary effect, statins act beneficially through different pleiotropic mechanisms on inflammation, fibrosis, endothelial function, thrombosis, and coagulation to improve chronic liver diseases. However, concerns remain about the efficacy and safety of statin treatment because of their potential hepatotoxic risks, and as of now, these risks impede broader use of statins in the treatment of chronic liver diseases. The aim of this review is to comprehensively describe the mechanisms by which statins improve prospects for different chronic liver diseases with special focus on the pathophysiological rationale and the clinical experience of statin use in the treatment of liver diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Dong-Won Ahn

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are immune-mediated chronic liver diseases. PSC is a rare disorder characterized by multi-focal bile duct strictures and progressive liver diseases, in which liver transplantation is required ultimately in most patients. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography have important role in diagnosis in most cases of PSC. PSC is usually accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease and there is a high risk of cholangiocarcinoma and colorectal cancer in PSC. No medical therapies have been proven to delay progression of PSC. Endoscopic intervention for tissue diagnosis or biliary drainage is frequently required in cases of PSC with dominant stricture, acute cholangitis, or clinically suspected cholangiocarcinoma. PBC is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune cholestatic liver disease, which when untreated will culminate in endstage biliary cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation. Diagnosis is usually based on the presence of serum liver tests indicative of a cholestatic hepatitis in association with circulating antimitochondrial antibodies. Patient presentation and course can be diverse in PBC and risk stratification is important to ensure all patients receive a personalised approach to their care. Medical therapy using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or obeticholic acid (OCA) has an important role to reduce the progression to end-stage liver disease in PBC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232199344
Author(s):  
Chengmei He ◽  
Yanlei Yang ◽  
Kunyu Zheng ◽  
Yiran Chen ◽  
Suying Liu ◽  
...  

Autoimmune liver disease (AILD) is a series of chronic liver diseases with abnormal immune responses, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The treatment options for AILD remain limited, and the adverse side effects of the drugs that are typically used for treatment frequently lead to a low quality of life for AILD patients. Moreover, AILD patients may have a poor prognosis, especially those with an incomplete response to first-line treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stem cells with low immunogenicity and can be conveniently harvested. MSC-based therapy is emerging as a promising approach for treating liver diseases based on their advantageous characteristics of immunomodulation, anti-fibrosis effects, and differentiation to hepatocytes, and accumulating evidence has revealed the positive effects of MSC therapy in AILD. In this review, we first summarize the mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of MSC treatment for AILD based on work in animal and clinical studies. We also discuss the challenges of MSC therapy in clinical applications. In summary, although promising data from preclinical studies are now available, MSC therapy is currently far for being applied in clinical practice, thus developing MSC therapy in AILD is still challenging and warrants further research.


Author(s):  
I. M. Iljinsky ◽  
O. M. Tsirulnikova

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is an organ-specific autoimmune disease predominantly affecting middle-aged women. It does not occur in children. PBC prevalence varies depending on the geographic location of the country. Over the past 30 years, there has been an increased incidence of PBC, while significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of PBC due to the development of innovative technologies in molecular biology, immunology and genetics. The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies and cholestasis on biochemical analysis is sufficient to make a diagnosis, without the need for liver biopsy. Small- and medium-sized bile ducts are the targets of PBC. In the first stage of the disease, granulomatous destruction of the bile ducts occurs; in the second stage, loss of bile ducts, their proliferation, increased size of the portal tracts with chronic inflammation; in the third stage - fibrosis with septal formation, loss of bile ducts and cholestasis; in the fourth stage - liver cirrhosis. Previously, the survival rate of PBC patients ranged from 7.5 to 16 years. However, it has improved significantly with ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid treatment. If there is no effect from treatment and end-stage liver failure sets in, liver transplantation is performed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Burton L Eisenberg ◽  

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a life-threatening disease, for which surgery is the standard of care. However, surgical resection of the primary tumor is associated with a high rate of recurrence and a low five-year overall survival (OS) rate. The introduction of the KIT protein kinase-targeted therapy imatinib mesylate has enhanced treatment options. It has demonstrated improvements in progression-free survival and OS in patients with unresectable and/or metastatic malignant GISTs. Based on this efficacy, imatinib has been evaluated as an adjuvant option in KIT-positive primary GIST patients who have undergone complete gross resection. Early data indicate that one-year adjuvant therapy with imatinib 400mg/day can prolong recurrence-free survival (RFS) in these patients. Preliminary data also indicate potential benefits of a higher imatinib dose (800mg/day) and a longer duration of adjuvant imatinib therapy. Currently, imatinib, at a recommended dose of 400mg/day, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjuvant therapy in adult patients who have undergone complete gross resection of KIT-positive GIST.


Gut ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 1568-1594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon M Hirschfield ◽  
Jessica K Dyson ◽  
Graeme J M Alexander ◽  
Michael H Chapman ◽  
Jane Collier ◽  
...  

Primary biliary cholangitis (formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis, PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease in which a cycle of immune mediated biliary epithelial cell injury, cholestasis and progressive fibrosis can culminate over time in an end-stage biliary cirrhosis. Both genetic and environmental influences are presumed relevant to disease initiation. PBC is most prevalent in women and those over the age of 50, but a spectrum of disease is recognised in adult patients globally; male sex, younger age at onset (<45) and advanced disease at presentation are baseline predictors of poorer outcome. As the disease is increasingly diagnosed through the combination of cholestatic serum liver tests and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, most presenting patients are not cirrhotic and the term cholangitis is more accurate. Disease course is frequently accompanied by symptoms that can be burdensome for patients, and management of patients with PBC must address, in a life-long manner, both disease progression and symptom burden. Licensed therapies include ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA), alongside experimental new and re-purposed agents. Disease management focuses on initiation of UDCA for all patients and risk stratification based on baseline and on-treatment factors, including in particular the response to treatment. Those intolerant of treatment with UDCA or those with high-risk disease as evidenced by UDCA treatment failure (frequently reflected in trial and clinical practice as an alkaline phosphatase >1.67 × upper limit of normal and/or elevated bilirubin) should be considered for second-line therapy, of which OCA is the only currently licensed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended agent. Follow-up of patients is life-long and must address treatment of the disease and management of associated symptoms.


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