Obeticholic acid is associated with improvements in AST-to-platelet ratio index and GLOBE score in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

Background & Aims: Biochemical markers, including GLOBE score and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), are used to stratify risk in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of obeticholic acid (OCA) on categorical shifts in GLOBE score, APRI, and both combined, based on data from POISE, a phase III placebo-controlled trial in patients with PBC who had an incomplete response or were intolerant to ursodeoxycholic acid. Methods: In a post hoc analysis, baseline and Month 12 data from POISE were used to calculate the APRI and GLOBE score. Patients were stratified into 3 risk groups based on a combination of APRI (0.54) and GLOBE (0.3 or age-specific) thresholds. Results: The analysis included 215 patients (47 low risk; 79 moderate risk; 89 high risk). Using the combined GLOBE score (threshold of 0.3) and APRI thresholds, there was improvement in ≥1 risk stage in 37% and 35% of patients in the OCA 5–10 mg and 10 mg groups, respectively, vs. 12% in the placebo group (both p