Author information
1Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy - l.abenavoli@unicz.it.
2Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
3Department of Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders (T.A.R.G.I.D.), Gasthuisberg University Hospital, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
4Digestive Disease Center (C.E.M.A.D.), IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Rome, Italy.
5School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, cholestatic, autoimmune disease, characterized by destruction of bile ducts. PBC predominantly affects women between 40 and 60 years of age. The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) is a serological feature of PBC. These highly specific antibodies are found in about 95% of patients with the disease. The family of enzymes located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, called the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex represents the target of the AMA. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a synthetic bile acid capable of protecting cholangiocytes from cholestatic damage caused by the accumulation of bile acids with a mechanism of action not yet well clarified. UDCA represents the gold standard therapy for PBC patients with recommended dose of 13-15 mg/kg/day. However, not every patient responds to therapy. On the other hand, the gut microbiota plays a key role in the onset of PBC through still unclear biochemical pathways. Less is known about its role as a potential biomarker after drug treatment. Actually, few studies analyzed the changes in gut microbiota composition before and after UDCA treatment. For this reason, this review represents an examination of the studies carried out on changes in gut microbiota composition in patients affected by PBC before and after treatment.