Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis identified in 32.6% of pre-cirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis patients in a retrospective analysis.

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 13, 2026 Medically reviewed April 25, 2026 Study authors: Xiuhong Wang, Lina Zhang, Shixuan Liu, Tong Zhang, Tailing Wang, Dingrong Zhong DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis occurs in approximately one-third of pre-cirrhotic PBC patients and correlates with older age and elevated transaminases.

This retrospective analysis evaluated clinicopathological features in 92 biopsy-proven pre-cirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients from a tertiary referral center. The study compared patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) against a PBC-only group without NCPF. The primary outcome assessed the prevalence and characteristics of NCPF, while secondary outcomes included age, liver enzyme levels, and serological markers.

NCPF was identified in 30 of 92 (32.6%) patients. Among those with early-stage disease (Scheuer stages 1 and 2), NCPF was present in 20 of 71 (28.2%) patients. Patients in the PBC+NCPF group were significantly older (54.2 ± 8.5 years) compared to the PBC-only group (49.4 ± 11.4 years; p = 0.04).

Liver biochemistry revealed that the PBC+NCPF group demonstrated elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (102.4 ± 88.9 U/L vs. 69.3 ± 47.1 U/L; p = 0.02) and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (103.2 ± 67.5 U/L vs. 70.3 ± 41.0 U/L; p = 0.02). Trends toward elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were noted but were not statistically significant. The study also assessed ANA, AMA, and OPV features, though specific comparative statistics for these secondary outcomes were not detailed in the provided results.

Limitations include the retrospective design, lack of reported follow-up data, and the absence of p-values or confidence intervals for the primary prevalence outcome. The findings suggest that NCPF is a notable feature in pre-cirrhotic PBC, associated with older age and specific enzyme elevations, but further prospective research is needed to confirm clinical implications.

Study Details

Study typeCohort

EvidenceLevel 3

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) has been reported to contribute to portal hypertension in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) preceding the development of cirrhosis. However, the prevalence and clinical significance of NCPF in early PBC remain poorly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features of NCPF in pre-cirrhotic PBC. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 92 biopsy-proven pre-cirrhotic PBC patients from a total of 109 cases collected over 15 years. Clinical/serological characteristics and histological features were compared between the PBC-only and PBC + NCPF groups. NCPF was identified in 30/92 (32.6%) pre-cirrhotic PBC patients. Specifically, within the subgroup of 71 patients who had early-stage disease (Scheuer stages 1 and 2), NCPF was present in 20 (28.2%) patients. The PBC + NCPF group was significantly older (54.2 ± 8.5 vs. 49.4 ± 11.4 years, p = 0.04) and demonstrated elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (102.4 ± 88.9 vs. 69.3 ± 47.1 U/L, p = 0.02) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (103.2 ± 67.5 vs. 70.3 ± 41.0 U/L, p = 0.02). Non-significant trends toward elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and IgG levels, along with increased positivity for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), were observed in the PBC + NCPF group. Histological examination revealed typical features of obliterative portal venopathy (OPV) in the PBC + NCPF group, including luminal narrowing and sclerosis of portal vein branches. Immunohistochemistry revealed significantly increased angiogenesis in the PBC + NCPF compared with the PBC-only group. This study identifies a high prevalence of NCPF in early PBC. Its association with greater biochemical activity and specific vascular histopathological alterations suggests that the presence of NCPF may delineate a more active PBC phenotype, offering potential value for early risk assessment.

Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis identified in 32.6% of pre-cirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis patients in a retrospective analysis.

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Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis identified in 32.6% of pre-cirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis patients in a retrospective analysis.

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