General Information About Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a disease where the immune system mistakenly perceives the microscopic bile ducts inside the liver as enemies, attacks them, causes inflammation, and gradually destroys these ducts.
It is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause. More than 90% of cases are women between the ages of 35-60. The risk is higher in individuals with a family history of PBC or rheumatic diseases.
It may remain silent for years. The first and most prominent symptom is chronic, unremitting extreme fatigue and severe itching that develops without any skin redness/rash. In advanced stages, jaundice in the eyes and fluid in the abdomen (ascites) may occur.
When bile ducts are destroyed, the bile produced by the liver cannot flow into the intestine and starts accumulating inside the liver. This toxic (acidic) bile erodes its own liver cells, eventually turning them into scar tissue (Cirrhosis).
Elevated levels of the Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) enzyme in routine blood tests raise suspicion. A definitive diagnosis is made when an auto-antibody called AMA (Anti-Mitochondrial Antibody) tests positive in the blood; sometimes a liver biopsy may be required.
There is no cure that alters the genetics of the immune system. Patients are prescribed a bile-thinning drug called UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid) for life. This medication clears the toxic bile, halting liver damage. In end-stage cirrhosis patients who do not respond to medications, Liver Transplantation is the only solution.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
