Biliary cirrhosis

Biliary cirrhosis

    * Introduction
    * Signs and symptoms
    * Causes
    * Diagnosis
    * Treatment
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a liver disease, more common in women, characterized by intrahepatic cholestasis, which leads to progressive destruction of bile ducts and cirrhosis. The disease is manifested by the onset of jaundice, pruritus of long duration, accompanied by spurts of fever.
Hepatic lesions show that this condition corresponds to a disturbance in the passage of bile in the liver, due to cholestasis.
Cholestasis is diminishing and sometimes a complete halt to the flow of liquid bile network whose constituents may eventually into the bloodstream. Bile ducts, interlobular canaliculele exactly are pipes that collects bile secreted by liver cells. They converge to form the actual bile ducts that carry bile inside the gallbladder, where it is stored to be used by the intestines.
The cause of PBC is unknown, but because this antibody is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Other etiologies, such as infectious agents, are not completely excluded.
Biliary cirrhosis is a rare disease that affects mainly women (90%) aged between 40 and 60 years. The incidence is 5 per 100,000, similar in different regions of the world.
Biliary cirrhosis is a slow, can be slowed with medication, especially if treatment is instituted promptly. Later stages of the disease can lead to serious complications and liver failure. In this case, a liver transplant may be the only alternative to improve and extend the life of the patient.