Elevated IgG Levels In Patients With PBC Associated With Faster Disease Progression, Increased Probability Of Liver-Related Death, Study Shows

HCPlive (4/3, Brooks) reports, “New research is shedding light on the potential prognostic value of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), suggesting increased levels at disease diagnosis are linked to worse outcomes than patients with normal IgG.” The study shows that patients “with IgG ≥1650 mg/dL more frequently experienced disease progression and liver-related death during follow-up. Of note, normalization of IgG during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improved prognosis.” Study researchers also noted that “patients with increased IgG were older at disease onset and more frequently had cirrhosis at diagnosis.” They concluded, “This long-term follow-up study demonstrated that increased IgG levels at baseline characterise a subgroup of non-cirrhotic” patients with PBC who face “faster disease progression and increased probability of liver-related death.” The study was published in Liver International.