Good nutrition and immune health may help people with advanced primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) recover better, according to a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Over time, PBC can cause scarring (cirrhosis) inside the liver. This can lead to a serious stage called decompensated PBC, with symptoms like yellowish skin, fluid buildup in the abdomen, leg swelling and confusion. In some cases, with treatment and good care, the liver can partially recover, a process known as recompensation.
The new study looked at 413 people with decompensated PBC. Researchers focused on something called the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), which combines two simple blood test results — albumin (a protein made by the liver that reflects nutrition and liver function) and lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections). A higher PNI means better overall nutrition and immune health.
During the study, about 29% of patients (119 out of 413) improved enough to reach recompensation. These patients had higher PNI scores at the start.
“The results of this study indicate that patients with higher PNI had a greater likelihood of recompensation,” the researchers said.
Read more about PBC prognosis
The researchers think that people with a higher PNI tend to recover better from advanced liver disease because good nutrition and a healthy immune system support liver repair and regeneration.
Albumin — one component of the PNI score — helps reduce inflammation, keeps blood vessels stable and prevents high blood pressure within the liver’s veins. Lymphocytes — the other part of the PNI score — protect against infection and aid liver healing. When levels of albumin and lymphocytes are low, the liver becomes more inflamed and less able to recover.
The researchers concluded that the PNI is not just a way to predict outcomes but may also guide treatment. Improving nutrition and strengthening the immune system could give people with advanced PBC a better chance for recovery.
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