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Primary biliary cirrhosis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the bile ducts of the liver resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the flow of bile. This obstruction damages liver cells.
Primary biliary cirrhosis is a disease that slowly destroys the livers bile ducts. Bile is a substance produced in the liver that helps digest fat in the small intestine and remove toxins from the body. When the ducts are damaged, bile builds up in the liver and damages liver tissue. Biliary cirrhosis can develop over time and may cause the liver to stop working.
There are two types of biliary cirrhosis: primary and secondary. Both types are characterized by cholestasis which impairs liver function. Secondary biliary cirrhosis results from prolonged bile duct obstruction or biliary atresia (absence or abnormality of the bile ducts from birth).
The term liver cirrhosis denotes the multiple chronic liver diseases wherein usual liver cells get damaged and scar tissues replace it. As a result of scar tissue development, the quantity of usual liver tissue reduces and leads to malfunctioning of liver. Liver is an important organ of the digestive system. Liver cirrhosis is considered as a serious liver disorder.
Liver cirrhosis is a term that refers to a group of chronic diseases of the liver in which normal liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. When scar tissue develops in the liver, the amount of normal liver tissue decreases and the liver is unable to function normally. Liver cirrhosis is a serious condition. The liver is a very important part of the digestive system.
Cirrhosis is a late stage of hepatic fibrosis that has resulted in widespread distortion of normal hepatic architecture. Cirrhosis is characterized by regenerative nodules surrounded by dense fibrotic tissue. Symptoms may not develop for years and are often nonspecific (eg, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss). Late manifestations include portal hypertension, ascites, and, when decompensation occurs, liver failure.
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic and progressive cholestatic disease of the liver. The etiology is unknown, although it is presumed to be autoimmune in nature. The major pathology of this disease is a destruction of the small-to-medium bile ducts, which leads to progressive cholestasis and often end-stage liver disease.
People with PBC may also experience dryness of the eyes and mouth, pain in the joints and bones, persistent abdominal pain on the right (up towards the ribs, over the liver), and yellowing of the skin and eyes known as jaundice (characterised by dark urine and pale faeces).
Primary biliary cirrhosis is a disease of the bile ducts inside the liver. It progresses slowly, so patients may lead active, productive lives for many years. In PBC, the bile ducts in the liver become inflamed. The inflammation is chronic (constant over a long period of time), and causes scaring that eventually blocks and destroys the bile ducts.
Treatment
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Commonly used to treat gallstones, UDCA may work by affecting the body's bile acids and reducing inflammation. Although UDCA doesn't cure primary biliary cirrhosis, it may prolong life if started early in the disease and is commonly considered the first line of therapy. It's less likely to help people with advanced liver damage.
