What is Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) - Liver Health Information - The Americ

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As some of you here have both PBC and AIH (cross-over) it would be good for all to understand the difference..more then the fact that itis another autoimmune liver disease...we also take different meds. Joanne C http://64.227.163.135/db/articles/1014 Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease that causes slow, progressive destruction of bile ducts in the liver. This destruction interferes with the excretion of bile. Continued liver inflammation causes scarring and eventually leads to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is present only in the later stage of the disease. In the early stages of the illness, the main problem is the build up of substances (like bile acids, cholesterol) in the blood, which are normally excreted into the bile. Ursodeoxycholic acid is a life-saving, safe, and approved therapy.What are the symptoms?Women are affected ten times more frequently than men. The disease usually is first diagnosed in people 30 to 60 years old. Many patients have no symptoms of disease and are diagnosed by finding an abnormality on routine liver blood tests. Itching and fatigue are common symptoms. Other signs include jaundice, cholesterol deposits in the skin, fluid accumulation in the ankles and abdomen, and darkening of the skin. Several other disorders are often associated with PBC. The most common is impaired functioning of the tear and salivary glands, causing dry eyes or mouth. Arthritis and thyroid problems may also be present. Renal stones and gallstones may develop. Bone softening and fragility leading to fractures can occur in late stages of the disease.How is PBC diagnosed?PBC diagnosis is based on several pieces of information. The patient may have symptoms (itching) suggesting bile duct damage. Laboratory tests, such as the alkaline phosphatase activity test, may confirm this. The test for mitochondrial antibodies is particularly useful as it is positive in nearly all patients. Infrequently, the bile ducts are X-rayed to rule out possibilities of other causes of biliary tract disease, such as obstruction. A liver biopsy is useful in confirming the diagnosis and in giving information on the severity and extent of liver damage.What causes PBC?Although the cause of the initial bile duct damage in PBC is unknown, there are certain clues that may be important. Strictly speaking, the disease is not