Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Italy2,000 participantsStarted 2026-04-23

Plain-language summary

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive destruction of the small intrahepatic bile ducts, leading to cholestasis and potential progression to cirrhosis. Prognosis is favorable when diagnosed and treated early, while diagnostic delay is common. Diagnosis is based on elevated ALP and the presence of autoantibodies (AMA/ANA), but the disease is often asymptomatic and detected late.It predominantly affects women aged 40-60 years, and evidence suggests underdiagnosis, highlighting the need for screening strategies in at-risk populations.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female sex, * age ≥ 40 years, * patients attending the pre-hospitalization service for planned admission requiring the measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT or gamma-GT) as part of routine clinical practice; * the patient is able to understand the study information and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) or other liver disease, * patients unable to understand the study information and for whom informed consent cannot be obtained, * patients with known conditions associated with elevated ALP: pregnancy, extrahepatic biliary obstruction (e.g., choledocholithiasis, biliary or pancreatic neoplasms), hepatic neoplasms or metastases, Paget's disease, bone neoplasms or metastases, hyperparathyroidism.

What they're measuring

Percentage of patients diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis identified through a reflex testing algorithm (ALP/GGT → AMA/ANA)

Timeframe: 2-10 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07573514

SponsorFondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12