Does this sound like pbc?

[Gmama2]

I am a 58 YO female, about 20lbs overweight, I drank alcohol moderately (about 7-10 drinks per week). The doctor always said this wasn't a cause. I take no medications except vitamins and seldom take a tylenol.

My liver enzymes and platelets began being elevated in 2000, elevations were slight then, Alkaline Phosphatase, AST and ALT all higher than normal. I went through a series of scans, etc., no symptoms. I don't have those numbers. I went through scans in 2013 as well, nothing was found. I have recently started experiencing pain and stiffness in my joints, especially my hands in the morning, and just had a liver biopsy. Waiting for the doctor to call.

Is it common to have something as serious as pbc without symptoms for years?

2012 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

GGT: 158 (55 u/l ) | no test | no test | no test | 127 (60 u/l)

AlkPhos: 130 (113 u/l ) | 157 (u/l 130) | 187 (153 u/l) | 151 (153 u/l ) | 210 (121 u/l )

AST : 33 (normal) | 29 normal | 77 (35 u/l) | 30 (normal) | 42 (40 u/l)

ALT: 58 (40 u/l) | 55 (29 u/l) | 142 (29 u/l) | 57 (29 u/l) | 63 (32 u/l)

Platelets: 436 (400 U/l) | 592 (400 U/l) | 670 (450 U/l) | 633 (400 U/l) | 530 (450 U/l)

Other tests are: 2020 - ANA by IFA - positive, speckled pattern 1:40

Rheumatoid Factor<14.0 (IU/mL<14.0 IU/mL)

Actin (Smooth Muscle) Antibody: 4 normal (u/l 19)

Mitochondrial (M2) Antibody: negative

Liver Biopsy report:

A single portal tract has findings suggestive of a florid duct lesion.Otherwise, there is a patchy mild hepatitis. There is no definitivefibrosis. In the appropriate clinical setting, these findings areconsistent with primary biliary cholangitis or autoimmune cholangitis(this would be classified as stage 1 disease). The differentialdiagnosis include drug induced liver injury and, less likely given theoverall pattern, viral hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis.

[Buddy2017]

I was diagnosed in 2011 , I am one of the lucky ones I have no symptoms .Occasionally I get a sharp stabbing pain in the liver area while eating . So, yes it is possible to have PBC with no symptoms

[gwillistexas in reply to Buddy2017]

Same with me. Diagnosed in 2017. I had the aching in URQ but after starting medication it went away. No symptoms 5 years later.

[Setk2008]

Stiffness in my hands and feet were one of the first signs along with a small rash. My liver enzymes were high since I was a young girl. I found out I had PBC when I was 32. I started having severe pain in my right side when I would roll from my side to my back in bed. I had a transplant at age 37. I am now 48 and the PBC has come back again in the new liver but we are managing it well. Be sure to take the medication to thin the bile and it should stay under control with any luck. Best wishes on your journey!

[zinchunter]

Well maybe it could be. But could it be fatty liver (steatosis)? Fatty liver can do as much damage as PBC. I was told to lose 10% weight. No change. It wasn't fatty liver! Best wishes.

[ninjagirlwebb]

Yes, pbc is caught early by blood work, not necessarily symtpoms. Your hepatologist can tell you and if need be can send your biopsy slides to another liver pathologist to get a second opinion. My hepatologist had to do that since the report was not really definitive and was sent to a liver disorder expert to get a diagnosis. I was put on ursodiol right away.

[Gmama2]

Thanks for all the replies, after returning from her vacation the doctor called and thinks it is PBC and I started Urso yesterday.

I need to focus on my weight, hoping if I start to feel better I will have more energy to exercise more.