User:Mr. Ibrahem/Primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), previously known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is an autoimmune disease of the small bile ducts of the liver. The most common symptoms are tiredness, itching, and yellowish skin and eyes. The disease may worsen over decades. Complications may include cirrhosis, liver failure, high blood cholesterol, and fat soluble vitamin deficiencies.

Risk factors include a family history of the disease. It is also associated with a number of other autoimmune diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, Raynaud disease, and scleroderma. The underlying mechanism involves a slow, progressive destruction of the small bile ducts of the liver, causing bile and other toxins to build up and damage the liver. Diagnosis is often based on blood tests, such as anti-mitochondrial antibodies and alkaline phosphatase, or a liver biopsy.

Initial treatment is generally with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) which slows the progression of the disease. Obeticholic acid (OCA) may also be used. Other efforts revolve around the management of complications. In those who develop liver failure, a liver transplant may be indicated.

PBC affects around 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 52,000 people. It occurs 9 times more often in women than men. Those between the ages of 30 and 60 are most commonly affected. It has been described since at least 1851 and was named "primary biliary cirrhosis" in 1949. As cirrhosis is a feature only of advanced disease, a name change to "primary biliary cholangitis" was accepted in 2014.