Single-center experience in management of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis

Background and study aims: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is an autosomal recessively inherited disease that causes intrahepatic-hepatocellular cholestasis. PFIC constitutes approximately 10-15% of cholestatic liver diseases in children. The aim of this study is to draw attention to this group of diseases, which pose a higher risk, in societies where consanguineous marriage is more common, and to share our experiences since the studies in the literature, regarding this group of diseases are case series with small number of patients. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 patients who were admitted with jaundice and diagnosed by genetic analysis, between January 2015 and July 2020. Results: We found 17.6% of patients with PFIC type 1, 55.9% patients had PFIC type 2, 14.7% patients had PFIC type 3, 8.8% patients had PFIC type 4 and 2.9% patients had PFIC type 5. Partial internal biliary diversion was performed in 5 (14.7%) patients, who had severe itching during follow-up, did not respond to medical treatment, and did not have significant fibrosis in liver biopsy yet. The degree of itching before PIBD was rated as +4 (cutaneous erosion, bleeding and scarring), in 5 patients and the rates were 0 (absent) in two patients, and +1 (mild itching) in 3 patients, 6 months after PIBD, these differences were statistically significant(p = 0.027). The mean weight z score was-1.43 (-3.72-+0.73), before PIBD, while it was 0.39(-1.86 -+2.45), six months after PIBD; the diference was statistically significant(p = 0.043). Liver transplantation was performed in 12 (35.3%) patients with significant fibrosis in liver biopsy and developing signs of portal hypertension. Conclusion: The PFIC disease group is a heterogeneous disease group that is difficult to diagnose and treat. It should be considered in patients with cholestasis and/or pruritus and those with a history of consanguineous marriage between parents and death of a sibling with similar clinical symptoms. (c) 2021 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

PFIC is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease that causes intrahepatic cholestasis in children. The distribution of different types of PFIC varies among patients, and partial internal biliary diversion and liver transplantation are treatment options for PFIC.