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Pruritus in primary biliary cholangitis: insights from the German PBC registry across secondary and tertiary care : brief report

Introduction and Objectives - Pruritus is a frequent and burdensome symptom in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), significantly affecting quality of life. Despite its clinical relevance, data on the prevalence and management, particularly across different levels of healthcare, remain l...

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Main Authors: Herta, Toni (Author) , Franke, Annegret (Author) , Müller, Tobias (Author) , Stein, Kerstin (Author) , Bantel, Heike (Author) , Günther, Rainer (Author) , Denk, Gerald (Author) , Reuken, Philipp A. (Author) , Schattenberg, Jörn M. (Author) , Naumann, Uwe (Author) , Böttler, Tobias (Author) , Weber, Andreas (Author) , Zeuzem, Stefan (Author) , Hinz, Matthias (Author) , Greinert, Robin (Author) , Berg, Christoph (Author) , Wissniowski, Thaddäus Till (Author) , Simon, Karl-Georg (Author) , Trebicka, Jonel (Author) , Behrens, Rüdiger (Author) , Grümmer, Harald (Author) , Hofmann, Wolf Peter (Author) , Dikopoulos, Nektarios (Author) , Sarrazin, Christoph (Author) , Roeb, Elke (Author) , Muche, Marion (Author) , Ringelhan, Marc (Author) , Teufel, Andreas (Author) , Merle, Uta (Author) , Keitel, Verena (Author) , Marquardt, Jens U. (Author) , Kautz, Achim (Author) , Tacke, Frank (Author) , Piotrowski, Katja (Author) , Köppe-Bauernfeind, Nicole (Author) , Trautwein, Christian (Author) , Berg, Thomas (Author) , Wiegand, Johannes Tobias Martin (Author) , Kremer, Andreas (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: January-June 2026
In: Annals of hepatology
Year: 2026, Volume: 31, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-5
DOI:10.1016/j.aohep.2025.102140
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aohep.2025.102140
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268125003655
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Author Notes:Toni Herta, Annegret Franke, Tobias Müller, Kerstin Stein, Heike Bantel, Rainer Günther, Gerald Denk, Philipp A. Reuken, Jörn M. Schattenberg, Uwe Naumann, Tobias Böttler, Andreas Weber, Stefan Zeuzem, Matthias Hinz, Robin Greinert, Christoph Berg, Thaddäus Till Wissniowski, Karl-Georg Simon, Jonel Trebicka, Rüdiger Behrens, Harald Grümmer, Wolf Peter Hofmann, Nektarios Dikopoulos, Christoph Sarrazin, Elke Roeb, Marion Muche, Marc Ringelhan, Andreas Teufel, Uta Merle, Verena Keitel, Jens U. Marquardt, Achim Kautz, Frank Tacke, Katja Piotrowski, Nicole Köppe-Bauernfeind, Christian Trautwein, Thomas Berg, Johannes Wiegand, Andreas E. Kremer
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Summary:Introduction and Objectives - Pruritus is a frequent and burdensome symptom in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), significantly affecting quality of life. Despite its clinical relevance, data on the prevalence and management, particularly across different levels of healthcare, remain limited. We aimed to assess prevalence, severity, and treatment of pruritus in PBC patients across secondary and tertiary care. - Patients and Methods - Within the German PBC registry, the intensity and management of pruritus were assessed cross-sectionally by treating physicians using a standardized 4-point verbal rating scale (absent, mild, moderate, severe), as well as by analyzing prescribed antipruritic medications. - Results - Pruritus was reported in 23 % (n = 120/515) of patients and classified as mild, moderate, or severe in 59 (49 %), 41 (34 %), and 20 (17 %) cases, respectively. The prevalence of pruritus was 27 % (n = 96/360) for tertiary versus 16 % (n = 24/155) for secondary care (p = 0.006). Moderate or severe pruritus was observed in 13.3 % (n = 48/360) of patients at tertiary centers compared to 8.4 % (n = 13/155) at secondary centers (p = 0.137). Antipruritic therapies were used in only 22.5 % (n = 27/120) patients with pruritus, with bezafibrate being the most frequently prescribed medication (63 %, n = 17/27). Patients with pruritus were more likely to receive antipruritic therapies in tertiary than secondary care: 26 % (n = 25/96) vs. 8 % (n = 2/24) (p = 0.098). - Conclusions - Pruritus in patients with PBC is common and under-treated in the real-world scenario. Assessment and management vary by healthcare level, highlighting the need for standardized care and greater awareness of treatment options across all settings.
Item Description:Online verfügbar: 11. Oktober 2025, Artikelversion: 11. November 2025
Gesehen am 26.01.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
DOI:10.1016/j.aohep.2025.102140

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