ASSESSMENT OF LIPID PROFILE AND ESTIMATED CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS

Introduction and Objectives

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is characterized by a distinctive lipid profile, partly influenced by elevated lipoprotein-X, not routinely measured in clinical practice. In Mexico, genetic predisposition to metabolic disorders increase cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to determine the lipid profile in patients with PBC and compare it with individuals without chronic liver disease (CLD).

Materials and Methods

A retrospective, observational, analytical case-control study was conducted in 2025, including 50 female patients aged 40–60 years with compensated PBC treated at a tertiary care hospital. They were compared with 50 age- and sex-matched controls without CLD. Variables included lipid profile, glycemic control, and 10-year cardiovascular risk estimated using Framingham and ASCVD scores. Statistical analysis used central tendency, dispersion, and Student’s t-test (p < 0.05).

Results

PBC patients showed higher mean total cholesterol (166 ± 69.8 vs. 146 ± 50.2 mg/dL), HDL (52.98 ± 26.78 vs. 45.52 ± 25.90 mg/dL), and LDL (91.52 ± 53.72 vs. 86.02 ± 39.22 mg/dL), though differences were not statistically significant. Triglycerides (107.76 ± 46.0 vs. 150.3 ± 67.3 mg/dL, p < 0.01) and HbA1c (5.42 ± 0.91% vs. 6.09 ± 1.02%, p < 0.01) were significantly lower in PBC. However, ASCVD risk was significantly higher in PBC (2.2 ± 1.3% vs. 1.59 ± 0.92%, p = 0.01), while Framingham risk was similar.

Conclusions

Despite a more favorable metabolic profile, PBC patients showed higher ASCVD-estimated cardiovascular risk, suggesting current risk tools may underestimate disease-specific factors.

Conflict of interest: None

Variable	PBC (n=50)	Control (n=50)	p-value
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	166 ± 69.8	146 ± 50.2	0.07
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	52.98 ± 26.8	45.52 ± 25.9	0.15
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	91.52 ± 53.7	86.02 ± 39.2	0.59
Triglycerides (mg/dL)	107.76 ± 46.0	150.3 ± 67.3	< 0.01
Glycated hemoglobin (%)	5.42 ± 0.91	6.09 ± 1.02	< 0.01
10-year cardiovascular risk (Framingham score) (%)	4.16 ± 0.02	4.02 ± 2.70	0.81
10-year cardiovascular risk (ASCVD score) (%)	2.2 ± 1.3	1.59 ± 0.92	0.01