SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2026
Comparative efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid, fibrates, and combination therapy in primary biliary cholangitis: an umbrella meta-analysis of meta-analyses.
Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Abstract
Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease characterized by progressive cholestasis. Although ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the standard therapy, a substantial proportion of patients show inadequate response, highlighting the need for alternative or adjunct treatments. Fibrates have emerged as adjunct agents to UDCA, but evidence remains inconsistent across trials and meta-analyses. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses evaluating fibrates, alone or in combination with UDCA, in PBC patients. Databases were searched from inception to 2025. Primary outcomes included biochemical response (alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and bilirubin), treatment response rates, and adverse events. Overlap among meta-analyses was assessed using the corrected covered area (CCA), and methodological quality was evaluated with AMSTAR 2. Results: Twenty-three meta-analyses were included, encompassing 45 unique randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 3,276 patients after removing duplicate RCTs across meta-analyses. Combination therapy of fibrates with UDCA significantly improved biochemical outcomes compared with UDCA alone (ALP: MD -85.4 U/L, 95% CI -102.7 to -68.1; bilirubin: MD -0.45 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.28). Biochemical response rates were higher with combination therapy (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.25-1.61). Fibrate monotherapy showed moderate improvements in ALP (MD -48.7 U/L, 95% CI -67.5 to -29.9) and bilirubin (MD -0.23 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.07). Adverse events occurred in 12%-18%, mostly mild pruritus and gastrointestinal symptoms. Overlap between meta-analyses was high (CCA = 11%), and methodological quality ranged from moderate to high. Conclusion: This umbrella meta-analysis provides the most comprehensive synthesis to date, supporting UDCA-fibrate combination therapy for biochemical response in PBC. However, evidence on survival and transplant-free outcomes remains insufficient.
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