Prognostic significance of clinical scoring systems for large-duct primary sclerosing cholangitis in Japanese patients

J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2025 May;32(5):385-392. doi: 10.1002/jhbp.12117. Epub 2025 Feb 27.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the significant factors associated with liver transplant-free survival time in Japanese patients with large-duct primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) by evaluating the association between various parameters and clinical scores at PSC diagnosis.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study investigated factors influencing liver transplant-free survival in Japanese large-duct PSC patients. Univariate analysis using log-rank tests identified significant clinical parameters and scoring systems, which were further analyzed with multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to determine independent predictors of liver transplant-free survival.

Results: A total of 77 patients with large-duct PSC were included. The univariate analysis identified that age (p < .001), serum albumin level (p = .024), Child-Pugh score (p = .0012), albumin-bilirubin score (p = .0083), Amsterdam-Oxford PSC score (p < .001), and revised Mayo risk score (p < .001) were significant predictors of liver transplant-free survival time. However, the multivariate analysis revealed that only the Amsterdam-Oxford PSC score remained as an independent factor significantly associated with liver transplant-free survival time (hazard ratio: 12.90, 95% confidence interval: 2.78-59.81, p = .0011).

Conclusions: This study underscored the importance of utilizing the Amsterdam-Oxford PSC score in clinical practice to assess disease prognosis and guide patient management in Japanese patients with large-duct PSC.

Keywords: cholangitis; liver transplantation; prognosis; risk assessment; survival analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing* / diagnosis
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing* / mortality
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index