PBC is long term in nature with bile duct injury typically occurring over the years. Many more patients die with the disease - not from it.
It can cause injury in 2 ways:
1. This is the progressive loss of bile ducts (ductopenia). When this happens, the bile can not get out of the liver.
2. The other result of progressive loss of the bile duct function is the dreaded itch. Itch in PBC is directly related to the retention of bile causing it to leak into your general circulation. Those with the highest degree of bile retention, typically have the highest degree of itching.
My Liver Biopsy
Worried
