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Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, which primarily affects middle-aged women. The liver histology is characterized by inflammation and destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts as well as a high frequency of granuloma. Although the etiology is unknown, the occurrence of associated multiorganic abnormalities such as Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, rheumatic disorders and thyroid gland diseases have been cited as evidence favouring an autoimmune background. Addison and Gull in 1851 described the first patient with jaundice and xanthomatosis. PBC was first mentioned in 1876 as an entity by Hanot. PBC was considered to be a rare disease until in 1973 Sherlock and Scheuer described 100 patients. Since then a greater awareness of the disease combined with a wider use of laboratory screening methods has led to the discovery of an increasing number of patients with PBC. In an epidemiological investigation of PBC in the northern part of Sweden a point prevalence of 151 per 106 was found, which is the highest so far reported, and the mean annual incidence amounted to 13.3 per 106. Asymptomatic PBC was present in more than one third of the patients which is consistent with the finding in other epidemiological investigations and is supposed to explain the higher prevalence of PBC and the better prognosis. Nevertheless 25 patients died during the study period, 14 as a direct consequence of the liver disease. Chronic intrahepatic cholestasis has been reported in sarcoidosis and, moreover, a high frequency of liver granuloma is found. The implication of the present study is that a negative Kveim test in combination with positive mitochondrial antibodies is accurate in differentiating PBC from sarcoidosis. Multisystem involvement is frequently observed in PBC and the present study confirms this. In the prospective investigation of 26 PBC patients 50 % had arthropathy considered to be associated with PBC. Rheumatoid arthritis was found in 5 patients, who all had symptoms of liver disease in addition. Lung function impairment was present in 56% (1 asymptomatic PBC). Most commonly a reduced diffusion capacity was found (36%). Bronchial asthma was present in three patients, and severe lung emphysema in one. Features of Sjogren's syndrome was found in 73% (3 asymptomatic PBC). In 6 patients keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was evident with the rose bengal test demonstrating corneal staining and a Schirmer test of less than 5 mm. Radiological findings of sialectasia were demonstrated in 6 patients, of whom 5 had KCS as well. The ultimate treatment in PBC is liver transplantation and to calculate the need for that, good epidemiological surveys are needed, and also indicators of hepatocellular function. The present investigation indicates that determination of the von Willebrand factor could be used for this purpose. / <p>Härtill 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

The face of transplantation has changed in recent decades. The improvement can be observed not only in terms of survival, but also the improved quality of life after this demanding procedure. This is one of the reasons why quality of life is one of the factors to consider (Durant, 2019). This is also due to the fact that in today's modern society one does not only want to survive, but wants to live fully. He wants to benefit his family and the society in which he lives. He wants to do his hobbies. Everybody wants to be active physically and also mentally. Today, quality of life is considered an indicator suitable for assessing physical, mental and social health (Chrastina, 2015). Methodology: The aim of this work is to evaluate how patients after liver transplantation perceive different domains related to quality of life and whether the results are different depending on the time elapsed from transplantation. For the purposes of the research was chosen a quantitative method using a questionnaire. A standardized WHOQOL BREF was used. The questionnaire contains 24 closed questions, which contain four domains and two questions themselves. Two separate questions assess the overal quality of life and overall health. The questionnaire was supplemented by two questions, which were aimed at obtaining...

Objectif : Déterminer la prévalence de la Sclérose systémique (SSc) chez les patients atteints de cirrhose biliaire primitive (CBP) et décrire les caractéristiques cliniques, pronostiques, immunologiques et capillaroscopiques chez les patients avec et sans SSc. Méthode : Étude descriptive de 100 patients avec CBP naïfs de SSc référés par les gastroentérologues. Un examen physique ainsi qu’un prélèvement sanguin et une capillaroscopie ont été réalisés. Résultats : Parmi les 22 patients diagnostiqués avec SSc, 13 n’avaient pas d’atteinte cutanée. Trente-neuf patients présentaient un phénomène de Raynaud. Dix-neuf étaient anticentromères (ACAs) positifs dont 18 avaient une SSc. Le groupe de CBP avec SSc avait un score Mayo meilleur et une atteinte histologique moins sévère. Une capillaroscopie anormale était retrouvée chez 29/100 patients. Les patients sans ACAs avaient une hypertension portale légèrement plus fréquente 14/81 (17,28%, p= 0,876) et une atteinte histologique hépatique plus sévère (89,5%, p=0,125). Le score Mayo était globalement meilleur dans le groupe des ACAs positifs. La sensibilité et la spécificité du test immunologique sont 95,45% et 93,59% respectivement. La capillaroscopie a une sensibilité de 78% et une spécificité de 94% pour le diagnostic de la SSc dans la population de CBP.   Conclusion : La SSc est fréquente dans la CBP, d’où l’intérêt de rechercher systématiquement les signes cliniques subtiles de la SSc, notamment le phénomène de Raynaud, et de demander une sérologie spécifique et une capillaroscopie pour identifier une SSc débutante. / Objective : To determine the prevalence of systemic scleroderma (SSc) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and to describe the clinical, prognostic, immunologic and nailfold capillaropscopy characteristics in patients with and without SSc. Study design : In this descriptive cohort study, 100 patients with PBC who were unknown for any connective tissue disease, in particular for SSc, were referred by their gastroenterologist. Physical examination with collection of serum samples and nailfold capillaroscopy examination were performed. Results : Twenty-two patients had been diagnosed with SSc of which 13 had no cutaneous manifestations of scleroderma. Thirty-Nine patients had Raynaud’s phenomenon. Of the 19 patients with anticentromères antibodies (ACAs), 18 had SSc. Patients with PBC and SSc had a better Mayo score and less severe liver damage. Twenty-nine patients had abnormal nailfold capillaroscopy. More frequent portal hypertension 14/81 (17,28%, p= 0,876) and severe liver tissue damage (89.5%, p=0.125) seen in patients with positive ACAs. Mayo score was better in patients with positives ACAs. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunologic tests were 95,45% and 93,59% respectively. The sensitivity of nailfold capillaroscopy was 78% and specificity was 94% for the diagnosis of SSc in patients with PBC.   Conclusion : SSc is more prevalent in PBC. This study highlights the importance of screening for subtle clinical signs of SSc in patients with PBC, in particular Raynaud’s phenomenon, hence requiring immunologic tests and nailfold capillaroscopy to diagnose scleroderma at earlier stages.