Primary biliary cirrhosis more prevalent in Chinese women vs. men

BOSTON — Primary biliary cirrhosis is more common among females in China, but it is more serious in males, according to data presented during the late-breakers session at The Liver Meeting.

“Although the frequency of [primary biliary cirrhosis] is much less in male than female, the disease is more serious than female, and [males have a] poor biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid,” the researchers wrote in the abstract.

Researchers from the 302 Military Hospital in Beijing sought to investigate and illuminate the gender distribution and age of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis in China. They identified 2,386 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis to determine the prevalence of the disease among the two genders. In addition, researchers analyzed clinical elements of a separate group of 60 men and 462 women with primary biliary cirrhosis to determine the different characteristics of the disease between genders.

Overall, 87% of the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were female and 13% were male. The age of onset of the disease was greater in the males compared with female (59 years vs. 50.8 years; P<.001). The male population was less likely to have gallstones compared with females (P<.05). However, males had a higher incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (P<.05). Males also had higher Child-Pugh, MELD and magnetic resonance spectroscopy scores at diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis compared with the females (P<.001). Females showed a greater response to ursodeoxycholic acid compared with males (95% vs. 44.2%; P<.001).

For more information:

Sun Y. LB-18. Presented at: The Liver Meeting; Nov. 7-11, 2014; Boston.

Disclosure: Relevant financial disclosures were not provided by researchers.