A new study finds that roughly 1 in 10 patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) also have chronic kidney disease (CKD) — and those who do face a nearly fourfold higher risk of death. Metabolic conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes were the biggest drivers of CKD risk. Researchers say regular kidney monitoring should become standard practice in PBC care.
A large retrospective study out of Spain has found that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is far more common in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) than previously recognized — affecting about 1 in 10 patients. The study, published in the Journal of Gastroenterology, analyzed over 1,000 PBC patients across 13 hospitals and found that metabolic comorbidities play a central role in driving kidney complications.
Arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes were the strongest independent risk factors for CKD at baseline, while low albumin levels and cirrhosis were also significantly associated with kidney decline over time. Most strikingly, patients with CKD at baseline had nearly four times the risk of dying compared to those without it.
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Why it matters: PBC management has traditionally focused on liver disease, but this study highlights that kidney health is a critical — and often overlooked — piece of the puzzle. Routine renal monitoring and early management of metabolic conditions could meaningfully improve survival outcomes for this patient population.
