liver biopsy results

hi guys - can you tell me how long it took to get the results of your biopsy and what the results mean.

[dianemle]

It takes two weeks for the results to be analysed after they it depends on how quick your appointment is with your specialist. The results usually show what stage you are at but that is not conclusive. It just gives the specialist a guide line. Good luck

[susanburgess]

I go every 6 Months for my ultra sound and blood test for pbc if there was anything to worry about they would contact you.I take my urso every morning and i also take 1 milk thistle this is good for your liver.

[Julez1961]

I found out pretty quickly, I can't remember exactly how long in days, but I was heading to stage 4 so it was urgent to find out which isn't a good thing, no news is sometimes good news! Staging is important to find out how advanced the liver disease is. Stage 1 good - Stage 4 Transplant!

They will make it quick if need be!

[Ruth27]

Hi Nicky407

Just to reassure you that a 'stage 4' biopsy result doesn't necessarily mean you'll need a transplant. My biopsy showed my liver had reached the cirrhotic stage - and that was 9 years ago. It's when end stage cirrhosis is accompanied by complications that cannot be treated by other means, that transplantation might have to be considered.

[sistergoldenhair in reply to Ruth27]

Ruth27, You are correct, along with the grace of God, sometimes I think I could grow old and end up passing with something totally non-related to PBC............thoughts and prayers, cyndy

[loriejw]

I know it can be very scary to wait. It varies based on who reads it first. Lab or tech or government lab. My biopsy took weeks because it was inconclusive and it kept getting sent to different agencies for review. I had to go to the hospital and hand deliver a reqest so they would stop and give slides and to my specialist who could read it properly. Only then did I go for an mri to confirm which stage. Once diagnosed and put on urso I have stabilized. Please don't be scared, stress is the worst thing for us. My journey was 5 years and 3 major surgeries before I got proper dx. I am doing terrific now.

[Hidden]

Hello nicky407.

I've not had a biopsy, I was diagnosed with PBC due to having itching and fatigue and also abnormal LFTs in 2010. I had the AMA test which proved positive for diagnose.

I don't go in for staging of PBC myself as it seems everything can never be what it seems with PBC.

I have been taking urso since Dec 2010 and times when I have felt I've not done so well in the interim period between the bloods and then had a recheck of the LFTs they've been really good and then when I think I have done well they have come back with a bit of a slight climb again even if not drastic.

Cirrhosis is apparently the final stage BUT this can last for many years and actually not progress even.

It is waiting and I know that can be what seems an awful long time (I had 7wks to wait for the results of the AMA and my GP at the time didn't seem to think it mattered once results landed on his desk from the hospital consultant as he had put it wasn't urgent on the notes and one of the admin staff rang of a Fri evening with an hr to surgery closing and expected me to go in for an appt with the doctor 5 days later. That didn't happen might I add, my husband had got home from work and decided to take the phone off me as I repeated what I was being told, he managed to get an appt a short time after hanging the phone up).

Meanwhile have you at all got print out of your bloods as if you have you perhaps could see how they are. If you have started on urso you could be surprised if you haven't already had an LFT check since, they could be starting to come down.