The Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Overview

Journal Korean J Hepatol

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2011 Nov 22

PMID 22102382

Citations 8

Authors

Kyung-Ah Kim

Sook-Hyang Jeong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease of autoimmune etiology. The initial presentation of PBC is various from asymptomatic, abnormal liver biochemical tests to overt cirrhosis. The diagnosis of PBC is based on cholestatic biochemical liver tests, presence of antimitochondrial antibody and histologic findings of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. Although the diagnosis is straightforward, it could be underdiagnosed because of its asymptomatic presentation, or underrecognition of the disease. UDCA in a dose of 13-15 mg/kg is the widely approved therapy which can improve the prognosis of patients with PBC. However, one-third of patients does not respond to UDCA therapy and may require liver transplantation. Every effort to diagnose PBC in earlier stage and to develop new therapeutic drugs and clinical trials should be made.

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