scholarly journals Obeticholic Acid Improves Aminotransferases Early during Treatment in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis Not Responding to Ursodeoxycholic Acid: A Study in Clinical Practice

Immuno ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-467
Author(s):  
Sara Labanca ◽  
Valentina Cacciato ◽  
Paolo Borro ◽  
Simona Marenco ◽  
Giulia Pieri ◽  
...  

Obeticholic acid (OCA) improves cholestasis and is generally well tolerated in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) not responding, or intolerant, to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). As PBC is mainly a cholestatic disorder, less attention is paid to aminotransferase behavior in the course of treatment. In this study we evaluated, in clinical practice, the efficacy of OCA treatment on both alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) using updated healthy ranges for aminotransferases. Fifteen PBC patients, non-responders to UDCA, were evaluated at baseline and during OCA treatment with serial measurement of cholestasis indexes and ALT, that were also assessed using updated normal ranges (<30 IU/L in males, <19 IU/L in females). Median ALP and ALT decreased from 2.16 to 1.27 × upper limit of normal (p = 0.003) and from 0.93 to 0.78 × upper limit of normal (p = 0.008), respectively, in the course of OCA treatment. At treatment day-15, median ALT decreased by 29.7% and ALP by 8.8%. Bilirubin and albumin were unmodified throughout treatment. Using updated normal ranges, ALT levels were normal in 6.7% of patients at baseline and in 33.3% of patients at 18 months of treatment. OCA treatment improves cholestasis and, also, indexes of hepatocyte necrosis, with a decline in necro-inflammatory activity even predating the improvement in cholestasis. Use of recalibrated healthy ranges for aminotransferases might be a useful tool to assess hepatic histological activity and its improvement with OCA treatment.

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W Chapman ◽  
Kate D Lynch

Abstract Introduction Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a semi-synthetic hydrophobic bile acid (BA) analogue that is highly selective agonist of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a key nuclear BA receptor, which induces expression of gut-derived hormones, in particular fibroblast growth factor 19. The resulting beneficial effects of OCA on glucose and lipid metabolism and particularly hepatic inflammation make it a candidate for the treatment of a variety of conditions including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Sources of data In PBC patients who have not initially responded to ursodeoxycholic acid, OCA has been shown in double-blind controlled clinical trials to significantly reduce serum alkaline phosphatase. To date, OCA is the only therapy licensed by the FDA, EMA and endorsed by NICE as second line therapy for PBC. No medications are currently approved in Europe or the USA for the treatment of NASH. In recent clinical trials, OCA has been shown encouraging results by improving liver blood tests and reducing liver fibrosis with no worsening of NASH. Areas of agreement OCA is the established second line therapy for PBC in those patients who fail to adequately respond to ursodeoxycholic acid. Areas of controversy The main side effects of OCA treatment in both PBC and NASH is that of dose-dependent pruritis which can lead to treatment discontinuation in ~1–10% of patients. In addition, OCA-treated patients may also exhibit (reversible) alterations in serum lipid levels; most notably a small decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. It is not yet known whether these changes carry a long-term cardiovascular risk in NASH. In addition, the relatively high cost of OCA may limit its use in cash-limited health systems. Growing Points Additional clinical trials are in progress to ascertain the long-term effects of OCA on survival in PBC and NASH. Areas timely for developing research New FXR agonists with a lower rate of side effects are being developed and trialed. Combination therapy with other agents may offer increased efficacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2-S) ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
Manali Sudhir Dhage ◽  
Nila Ganamurali ◽  
Dhivya Dhanasekaran ◽  
Sarvesh Sabarathinam

Background: Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a persistent liver disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid is used as a first-line treatment for the past two decades. However, concurrent use of Ursodeoxycholic acid reported with a severe adverse drug reaction. Obeticholic acid has been started utilizing as monotherapy and also with Ursodeoxycholic acid in a patient who is intolerant to Ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. We primarily aimed to compare the pharmacokinetic & toxicity profiles of Ursodeoxycholic acid and Obeticholic acid using in silico methods. Method: The pharmacokinetic profile of UDCA & OCA was observed from PKCSM server online database, OSIRIS® property Explorer, T.E.S.T. (Toxicity estimation software tool) & Molinspiration® is used to estimate the drug toxicity profiles. Result: This computer-aided response provides a great understanding and creates a gap between the theoretical and clinical evidence for UDCA & OCA's preference in PBC management. Conclusion: Co-administration of Obeticholic acid with Ursodeoxycholic acid will be an effective treatment for PBC in patients with UDCA intolerants. However, both medications are well-recognized substrates of the CYP3A4 enzyme and may lead to unintended drug interactions and side effects. Keywords: Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Obeticholic acid, Ursodeoxycholic acid, CYP3A4, Drug Interactions, Pharmacokinetics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorn C Goet ◽  
Gideon M Hirschfield

New guidelines have been produced for the management of primary biliary cholangitis, an infrequent but nonetheless important autoimmune liver disease. We provide a succient commentary and overview of the key features of disease management that arise from these recent guideline recommendations, with a focus on therapy with licensed agents (ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid) as well as personalised management of disease complications and associated symptoms.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Voitl ◽  
T Hippchen ◽  
C Zhang-Hagenlocher ◽  
KH Weiss ◽  
C Rupp

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