Primary biliary cirrhosis (patient information)

For WikiDoc page on this topic, click here.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Primary biliary cirrhosis?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Primary biliary cirrhosis On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Primary biliary cirrhosis
Videos on Primary biliary cirrhosis
FDA on Primary biliary cirrhosis
CDC on Primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary biliary cirrhosis in the news
Blogs on Primary biliary cirrhosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Primary biliary cirrhosis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Primary biliary cirrhosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Primary biliary cirrhosis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the bile ducts of the liver, which blocks the flow of bile. This obstruction damages liver cells and leads to scarring called cirrhosis.

What are the symptoms of Primary biliary cirrhosis?

More than half of patients have no symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Symptoms usually come on gradually and may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Enlarged liver
• Fatigue
• Fatty deposits under the skin
• Fatty stools
• Itching
• Jaundice
• Soft yellow spots on the eyelid

What causes Primary biliary cirrhosis?

The cause of inflamed bile ducts in the liver is not known. However, primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune disorder. That means your body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

The disease more commonly affects middle-aged women.

Long-term bile obstruction is believed to lead to liver cirrhosis. The disease may be associated with autoimmune disorders such as:

• Celiac disease
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sicca syndrome (dry eyes or mouth)
• Thyroid disease

Diagnosis

The doctor or nurse will perform a physical exam.

The following tests can check to see if your liver is working properly:

• Albumin blood test
• Liver function tests (serum alkaline phosphatase is most important)
• Prothrombin time (PT)
• Cholesterol and lipoprotein blood tests

Other tests that can help diagnose this disease are:

• Elevated immunoglobulin M level in the blood
• Liver biopsy
• Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (results are positive in about 95% of cases)

Where to find medical care for Primary biliary cirrhosis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Primary biliary cirrhosis

Sources

National Library of Medicine