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An update on primary sclerosing cholangitis epidemiology, outcomes and quantification of alkaline phosphatase variability in a population-based cohort

  • Original Article—Alimentary Tract
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Abstract

Background

Contemporary primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) population-based cohorts describing the epidemiology, natural history, and long-term fluctuations in serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and their prognostic relevance are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the incidence and natural history of PSC and quantified SAP fluctuations among those with PSC in Olmsted County, Minnesota over the last 41 years.

Methods

The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify 56 subjects diagnosed with PSC between 1976 and 2017 in Olmsted County. The primary endpoint (n = 19) included liver transplantation, hepatic decompensation, and cholangiocarcinoma.

Results

The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of PSC (per 100,000 person years) nearly doubled from 2001 to 2017 compared to 1976–2000 (1.47; 95% CI 0.99–1.96 versus 0.79; 95% CI 0.42–1.16, p = 0.02). This increase paralleled a rise in patients with markers of a milder phenotype at the time of diagnosis: normal SAP (26.32% versus 0%, p < 0.01) and lower Mayo PSC risk score [0.36 (− 0.57 to 1.55) versus − 0.50 (− 1.25 to 0.35), p = 0.03]. Intra-individual SAP fluctuates with a median coefficient of variation of 36.20%. SAP normalization and dropping below 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) occurs at a rate of 5% and 10% per year, respectively. SAP less than 1.5 × ULN was associated with a lower risk of PSC-related complications (hazard ratio 0.11; 95% CI 0.03–0.42).

Conclusions

The patients with PSC are increasingly being diagnosed with a milder phenotype. While a lower SAP is associated with improved outcomes, the high intra-individual variation of SAP levels calls into question the practice of using a single SAP value as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.

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Abbreviations

PSC:

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel disease

SAP:

Serum alkaline phosphatase

ULN:

Upper limit of normal

REP:

Rochester epidemiologic project

CCA:

Cholangiocarcinoma

HD:

Hepatic decompensation

MELD:

Model for end-stage liver disease

PREsTo:

PSC risk estimate tool

MRCP:

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

CI:

Confidence interval

IQR:

Interquartile range

LT:

Liver transplant

HR:

Hazard ratio

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Zeinab Bakhshi, Moira B. Hilscher, Gregory J. Gores, Nicholas F. LaRusso, Andrea A. Gossard, Konstantinos N. Lazaridis & John E. Eaton

  2. Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    William S. Harmsen & Jason K. Viehman

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona State University College of Health Solutions, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Keith D. Lindor

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  1. Zeinab Bakhshi
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  2. Moira B. Hilscher
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  3. Gregory J. Gores
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  5. Jason K. Viehman
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Survival of those with PSC versus expected survival among age and gender adjusted Olmsted County residents. (PDF 319 kb)

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Bakhshi, Z., Hilscher, M.B., Gores, G.J. et al. An update on primary sclerosing cholangitis epidemiology, outcomes and quantification of alkaline phosphatase variability in a population-based cohort. J Gastroenterol 55, 523–532 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-020-01663-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-020-01663-1

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