Published online Mar 28, 2023. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i12.1795
Peer-review started: December 5, 2022
First decision: December 19, 2022
Revised: January 4, 2023
Accepted: March 14, 2023
Article in press: March 14, 2023
Published online: March 28, 2023
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by immune-driven destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts leading a proportion of patients to hepatic failure over the years. Diagnosis at early stages in concert with ursodeoxycholic acid treatment has been linked with prevention of disease progression in the majority of cases. Diagnosis of PBC in a patient with cholestasis relies on the detection of disease-specific autoantibodies, including anti-mitochondrial antibodies, and disease-specific anti-nuclear antibodies targeting sp100 and gp210. These autoantibodies assist the diagnosis of the disease, and are amongst few autoantibodies the presence of which is included in the diagnostic criteria of the disease. They have also become important tools evaluating disease prognosis. Herein, we summarize existing data on detection of PBC-related autoantibodies and their clinical significance. Moreover, we provide insight on novel autoantibodies and their possible prognostic role in PBC patients.
Core Tip: The diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) relies on the detection of disease-specific autoantibodies, including anti-mitochondrial antibodies and disease-specific antinuclear antibodies targeting sp100 and gp210. In this review, we summarize existing data on detection of PBC-related autoantibodies and their clinical significance. Moreover, we provide insight on novel autoantibodies and their possible prognostic role in PBC patients.