Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Question 1

Description: What is primary biliary cholangitis?

Answer 1

• Autoimmune chronic liver disease in which INTRAHEPATIC bile ducts of the liver are slowly destroyed and inflamed affecting mainly females

Question 2

Aetiology/Risk Factors:

Answer 2

XXX

Question 3

Pathology: Describe the inflammation that occurs in primary biliary cholangitis and what this leads to (3)

Answer 3

• Granulomatous inflammation involving bile ducts
• Causes loss of intrahepatic bile ducts
• Progresses to cirrhosis

Question 4

Symptoms: What symptoms does a patient with primary biliary cholangitis experience?

Answer 4

• Fatigue

- Pruritus

Question 5

Signs:

Answer 5

XXX

Question 6

Investigations: What investigations do we do for primary biliary cholangitis

Answer 6

• Alkaline Phosphatase (serum) is elevated (LTF)
• Check IgM levels - should be RAISED (blood test)
• Anti-mitochondrial antibody should be positive (blood test)

Question 7

Treatment: What is the treatment for primary biliary cholangitis

Answer 7

• Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) – improves surivial and delays transplantation
• Liver transplant in end-stage liver disease

Question 8

Complications: What are the complications of primary biliary cholangitis

Answer 8

• Cirrhosis