Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
04:38
Partial Bile Duct Ligation in the Mouse: A Controlled Model of Localized Obstructive Cholestasis
Published on: March 28, 2018
16.4K
Primary biliary cholangitis. Treatment options in 2025. A narrative review
Maria Angelara1, Klairi Papachristou2, Margarita Papatheodoridi3
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic Clinic, "Laiko" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Frontiers in Immunology
|November 19, 2025
Summary
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) treatments are evolving. While ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is standard, new therapies like PPAR agonists show promise for non-responders, though further options are needed.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, autoimmune liver disease predominantly affecting women.
- Its pathogenesis involves genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors leading to biliary epithelial cell apoptosis.
- Current treatments like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are insufficient for 15-40% of patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging treatments for PBC.
- To elucidate the pathogenetic pathways targeted by various therapies.
- To highlight unmet needs in PBC management.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on PBC treatments.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for novel therapeutics.
- Discussion of drug mechanisms of action.
Main Results:
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) remains a first-line therapy but lacks efficacy in a significant patient subset.
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists demonstrate biochemical improvements and pruritus relief in non-responders.
- Several novel agents targeting different pathways are in development.
Conclusions:
- PBC treatment landscape is expanding beyond UDCA.
- PPAR agonists offer a new option for non-responsive patients.
- Continued research is crucial to develop therapies achieving complete biochemical normalization.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:30Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Acute pancreatitis presents a complex medical emergency characterized by rapid onset inflammation of the pancreas, demanding timely diagnosis and management to prevent complications. The condition primarily manifests through severe upper abdominal pain that often radiates to the back. This pain intensifies following the consumption of fatty foods. Accompanying symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, fever, dyspnea, cyanosis, and jaundice can vary in intensity but significantly...
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
The pancreas, an elongated and flat gland situated behind the stomach, serves a vital function in digesting food and managing blood sugar levels.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
The management of chronic pancreatitis is multifaceted, involving a comprehensive approach that includes thorough assessment, diagnostic testing, and a variety of management strategies.
Assessment:
Assessment:
01:20Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most commonly caused by obstruction of the cystic duct. This blockage prevents bile from draining, leading to gallbladder distension, inflammation, and potentially serious complications. This condition may present acutely or chronically and can happen with or without gallstones.EtiologyAbout 95% of cholecystitis cases are calculous, caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct, leading to bile accumulation and inflammation of the gallbladder...
01:25Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing, relapsing inflammation of the pancreas, characterized by irreversible damage to the gland. It results in progressive destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma, fibrosis, and eventual loss of both exocrine and endocrine function. The disease may evolve gradually after multiple episodes of acute pancreatitis or develop independently.EtiologyChronic pancreatitis can arise from a variety of causes:Alcohol use is the leading cause, accounting for 70–80% of...