Transplantation Trends in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

[Guest guest]

Transplantation Trends in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Jarone Lee, Adam Belanger, T. Doucette, Carmen Stanca,

Friedman and Bach,

Department of Community and Preventive Medicine,

Division of Biostatistics and Data Management, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New

York, New York USA

Available online 27 September 2007.

Background

& Aims -

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has

shown efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a chronic, slowly

progressive disease. We hypothesized that UDCA use

would reduce the need for liver transplantation in PBC. Our

study's aim was to assess liver transplantation requirements in PBC over a

12-year period. For comparison, we studied patients

with primary sclerosing

cholangitis (PSC) because it shares

similar characteristics to PBC, but with a decreased response to UDCA.

Methods -

PBC and PSC transplant data of first-time liver

recipients from the United Network for Organ Sharing database were collected

from 1995 to 2006.

Results -

The absolute number of liver transplantations in the United

States increased an average of 249

transplants per year (P <

..001). The absolute number of transplants performed

for PBC decreased an average of 5.4 cases per year (P = .004). The absolute number of

transplantations for PSC showed no statistical change (P = .621). The

trends for the absolute number of individuals added to the transplant waitlist

showed a similar pattern: (1) an increase in total listings for transplants of

all diagnoses (β = 265; P =

..001); (2) a decrease in PBC (β = −12.1; P

< .001); (3) and no change for PSC (β = −5.434; P = .083).

Conclusions -

The liver transplantation burden of PBC in the United

States decreased between 1995 and 2006. This is despite an increase in total liver transplants and

no change in transplant rates for PSC.

With love, Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes!

Son Ken (33) UC 91 - PSC 99 - Tx 6/21 & 6/30/07 @ Baylor in Dallas

[Guest guest]

Interesting, so where is the drug that will slow PSC? Could it be future nor-urso ? If urso is not the answer we need, then lets hope that research brings us something new to try soon.Since my son takes 2,000mg of urso a day, it would be nice if it showed that it helps in studies.LeeTransplantation Trends in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Jarone Lee, Adam Belanger, T. Doucette, Carmen Stanca, Friedman and Bach, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Division of Biostatistics and Data Management, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York USAAvailable online 27 September 2007. Background & Aims -Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has shown efficacy in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a chronic, slowly progressive disease. We hypothesized that UDCA use would reduce the need for liver transplantation in PBC. Our study's aim was to assess liver transplantation requirements in PBC over a 12-year period. For comparison, we studied patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) because it shares similar characteristics to PBC, but with a decreased response to UDCA. 

[Guest guest]

I think that we have to be satisfied with the reduced cancer risk

(both colon and biliary) that urso brings and continue to encourage

and support the search for treatments that will be effective against PSC.

Tim R

>

> Interesting, so where is the drug that will slow PSC? Could it be

> future nor-urso ?

> ... it would be nice if it showed that [urso] helps in studies.

> > Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has shown efficacy in primary biliary

> > cirrhosis (PBC), a chronic, slowly progressive disease. We

> > hypothesized that UDCA use would reduce the need for liver

> > transplantation in PBC.