Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) Patient Blood Samples Analysis: A Study Conducted at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital

Peripheral venous blood specimens were collected from PBC patients and healthy individuals (HC) from the health examination center from October 2020 to October 2021 at the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. Specimens were collected using anticoagulant tubes containing EDTA-K2. A total of 168 PBC patient specimens and 74 HC control group specimens were collected. The inclusion criteria for PBC patients were: (1) evidence of serum biochemical indicators, such as elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) or γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) without a clear cause; (2) positive serum AMA/AMA-M2/BPO antibodies and BPO antibodies, or positive anti-gp210/sp100 antibodies; (3) non-suppurative or destructive cholangitis in liver tissue, without lobular bile duct damage [21]. If two of the three tests were positive and viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, drug-induced hepatitis, and other autoimmune diseases were excluded, patients could be included. HC peripheral venous blood specimens were matched for age and gender with PBC patients and had no history of hepatitis or autoimmune diseases. The specimen collection was approved by the Ethical Committee of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital and was conducted with the informed consent of the patients.