Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Motion Meeting

Abstract

The purpose of the meeting was to work towards unified best practice in the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This centred on a theme of collaboration, with the intention of pooling and sharing the collective experience of healthcare professionals globally. A talk from a patient representative introduced the concept of a patient-centric treatment approach and offered an alternative perspective on PBC care. This was followed by a review of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) PBC guidelines, which highlighted the importance of risk stratification for individualised and optimal treatment. This led into a session related to biochemical response and the identification of patients suitable for second-line therapy. Another key topic was ‘challenges in PBC management’, in which symptom management techniques focussing on pruritus and fatigue were highlighted. Following this, non-invasive imaging techniques and their evolving use in disease staging and risk assessment were discussed. The advancing therapeutic landscape of PBC was presented, including discussion of emerging therapeutic targets such as farnesoid X receptors (FXR), fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF-19), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR). Obeticholic acid (OCALIVA®▼, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., London, UK) is the first-in-class FXR agonist licensed for the second-line treatment of PBC, and its optimal therapeutic use was discussed through the presentation of clinical data and case studies.