Primary Biliary Cholangitis is a disease that causes damage to the bile ducts in your liver. This disease is also referred to as PBC. The bile ducts in the liver carry bile which aids in digestion and helps your body absorb fats and cholesterol, as well as some vitamins. Bile is also a factor in removing waste from the body.
When the bile ducts are not working properly, the substances that should be removed as waste from the body stay in the liver. This causes a back-up of bile which causes the liver to be inflamed and sometimes causes scarring. This condition typically grows gradually worse over time.
Many people do not notice any symptoms that would cause alarm in the early stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, the common symptoms are:
The cause of Primary Biliary Cholangitis is not well understood. It is not passed to people via genetics, but it can run in families. You will be more at risk of getting Primary Biliary Cholangitis if you have a parent, a brother, or a sister who also has it. Many patients are women, and most of them are between the ages of 40 and 50.
Common risk factors for Primary Biliary Cholangitis are:
This condition is diagnosed through the use of blood tests in most cases. These tests will show how well the liver is functioning and reveal any secondary or additional immune system problems. You might also need to have an ultrasound or a CT scan to look at your abdomen. A liver biopsy can also be useful in cases where there might be liver damage. This test will reveal if the liver has been scarred or damaged due to the disease.
There is no cure for this condition. It cannot be prevented either, but you can avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, and doing street drugs if you have anyone in the family who has Primary Biliary Cholangitis.
Treatment is done through the use of medications like Ursodiol, which help to move bile out of the liver. There are other medications that can be used to improve liver function as well, such as Ocaliva. You will likely need to make changes in your daily routine, such as ceasing to drink alcohol, stopping smoking, and being more active. Your doctor might also recommend a diet that is low in sodium and lower in fat.
A liver transplant is often the last option for those who can no longer manage the condition through the use of medication and dietary and routine changes.