Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC): Prognosis and Treatment Procedures

Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic non-supportive destructive intrahepatic autoimmune cholangitis liver disease. The proper reason of development of this disease is unknown. However, in most cases it develops when an individual’s immune system attacks and destroys the small and medium-sized bile ducts inside the liver. The PBC causes liver inflammation, fibrosis, portal hypertension, progressive cirrhosis, and liver failure over time if the disease is left untreated. Usually, it affects women between the ages of 40 and 60, but it has been diagnosed outside of this age range, as well as in men with a male-to-female ratio of 1:10. The increased incidence of the disease is visible in the developed countries; however, the prevalence of it in developing countries is increasing presumably due to the growth in recognition and knowledge of the disease. Although most patients are asymptomatic at first presentation, typical patients show symptoms of fatigue, itching, and jaundice. There is no cure for PBC, but treatment can help slow the progression of disease and associated symptoms. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA) are currently the only recommended therapies of it and a patient survives as long as age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The ultimate goal of treatment of PBC is improvement of health-related quality of life for all patients with a proper care of related symptoms, such as fatigue and itching. In this study an attempt has been taken to discuss the prognosis and treatment procedures of the disease PBC for the welfare of the patients.