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Primary biliary cirrhosis - Symptom

Alternative Names

PBC

Symptoms:

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

Signs and tests:

Tests for the disease:

Elevated immunoglobulin M level in the blood
Liver biopsy
Mitochondrial antibodies (positive in about 95% of cases)

Tests for liver dysfunction:

Liver function tests
Serum cholesterol and lipoproteins

Digestive system

Bile pathway

Reviewed last on: 5/20/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Silveira MG. Treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis: therapy with choleretic and immunosuppressive agents. Clin Liver Dis. 2008;12:425-443.

Mavo MJ. Natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis. Clin Liver Dis. 2008;12:277-288.

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