Study finds rare co-occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus and primary biliary cirrhosis

Although the co-occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is rare, it is important for clinicians to closely monitor patients with either condition for signs of the other, according to a study that noted that early detection and ongoing surveillance are crucial in preventing complications and managing these autoimmune diseases effectively.

Researchers conducted a systematic and comprehensive search of databases and identified 14 studies, encompassing 3944 PBC patients and 9414 SLE patients.

The pooled data analysis indicated that approximately 1.1% of SLE patients also had PBC, with a range of 0.02% to 7.5%. Conversely, around 2.7% of PBC patients concurrently had SLE, with a range of 1.3% to 7.5%. In addition, qualitative data analysis revealed that the prevalence of PBC in SLE patients presenting with hepatic dysfunction or abnormal liver enzymes ranged from 2% to 7.5%.

The researchers concluded that the study underscores the importance of vigilance in managing patients with SLE and PBC to improve their overall health outcomes.

Reference
Polpichai N, Saowapa S, Chan SY, et al. Determining the association between systematic lupus erythematosus and the occurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002791. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38916230.