Primary biliary cirrhosis overview

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune disease of the liver marked by the slow progressive destruction of the small bile ducts (bile canaliculi) within the liver. When these ducts are damaged bile builds up in the liver (cholestasis) and over time damages the tissue. This can lead to scarring, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure.