Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a heterogeneous group of rare genetic disorders associated with bile acid secretion or transport defects. This is the first systematic review of the epidemiology, natural history and burden of PFIC.

MEDLINE and Embase were searched for publications on PFIC prevalence, incidence or natural history, and the economic burden or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with PFIC. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed.

Of 1269 records screened, 20 were eligible (epidemiology, 17; humanistic burden, 5; both, 2). Incidence of intrahepatic cholestasis, including but not limited to PFIC, was 1/18 000 live births in one study that did not use genetic testing. In two studies of infants and children (2–18 years) with cholestasis, 12–13% had genetically diagnosed PFIC. Of the three main PFIC subtypes, PFIC2 was the most common (21–91% of patients). Common symptoms (e.g. pruritus, jaundice, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly) generally appeared at about 3 months of age and tended to emerge earliest in patients with PFIC2. Patients reported that pruritus was often severe and led to dermal damage and reduced HRQoL. Disease progression led to complications including liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, with 20–83% of patients requiring liver transplantation. Mortality was 0–87% across 10 studies (treatment varied among studies), with a median age at death of ~4 years in one study.

Patients with PFIC face debilitating symptoms and poor prognosis. Further research is needed to inform patient management and clinical trial design. Published data on the epidemiology and socioeconomic burden of PFIC is limited.