Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Number of Conditions: 2
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Gallbladder and Biliary Tract Disorders
Sub-category: Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Symptoms:
fatigue; itching (pruritus); dry mouth and eyes; right upper quadrant discomfort; jaundice (in advanced stages); dark urine; pale stools
Root Cause:
Autoimmune destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts, leading to cholestasis and eventual liver damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing elevated alkaline phosphatase and antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA); liver biopsy or imaging if necessary.
Treatment:
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to slow disease progression; obeticholic acid for those intolerant to or unresponsive to UDCA.
Medications:
Ursodeoxycholic acid (bile acid analog), obeticholic acid (FXR agonist), cholestyramine (for itching).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 40 cases per 100,000; more common in women (9:1 ratio).
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female sex, family history, smoking, environmental triggers.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; good with early treatment, but untreated cases may progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cirrhosis, portal hypertension, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiencies, hepatocellular carcinoma.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Gallbladder and Biliary Tract Disorders
Sub-category: Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Symptoms:
fatigue; itching (pruritus); right upper quadrant pain; fever (in acute infections); jaundice; dark urine; pale stools
Root Cause:
Chronic inflammation and scarring of bile ducts, leading to cholestasis and liver damage; often associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Elevated liver enzymes (ALP, GGT); MRCP or ERCP showing bile duct strictures; liver biopsy in uncertain cases.
Treatment:
No definitive cure; management focuses on symptom relief and slowing progression. ERCP for bile duct strictures; liver transplant for advanced disease.
Medications:
Ursodeoxycholic acid (limited efficacy), cholestyramine for itching, antibiotics for cholangitis episodes.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an incidence of 0.5-1 per 100,000; more common in men and those with IBD.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male sex, inflammatory bowel disease (particularly ulcerative colitis), genetic predisposition.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; median survival without transplant is 10-20 years.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cirrhosis, portal hypertension, bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), recurrent infections, liver failure.