In this Article

• What is PBC?
• What is the scope of the problem?
• What is the cause of PBC?
• What are the symptoms and physical findings in PBC?
• What manifestations are specifically due to PBC itself?
• What are the manifestations of the complications of cirrhosis in PBC?
• What are the manifestations of diseases associated with PBC?
• What are risk factors for PBC?
• How is PBC diagnosed?
• What is the role of blood tests?
• What is the role of testing for antimitochondrial antibodies?
• What is the role of imaging tests?
• What is the role of liver biopsy?
• What are the criteria for a definitive diagnosis of PBC
• What is the course of natural progression in PBC?
• What are the sequential clinical phases of PBC?
• What is the role of mathematical models in predicting the outcome (prognosis) in PBC?
• What about pregnancy in PBC?
• What is the role of autoimmunity?
• What are antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA)?
• Do the AMA react with the bile ducts?
• What causes destruction of the bile ducts in PBC?
• What is the role of infection?
• What is the role of genetics?
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Xanthomas
• Jaundice
• Hyperpigmentation
• Malignancy
• Edema and ascites
• Bleeding from varices
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Hypersplenism
• Hepatorenal syndrome
• Hepatopulmonary syndrome
• Liver Cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Sicca syndrome
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Scleroderma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Celiac sprue
• Urinary tract infections
• Other associated diseases
• Preclinical
• Asymptomatic
• Symptomatic
• Advanced
• Patient Discussions: Primary Biliary Cirrhosis - Symptoms Experienced
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Glossary
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Index

What are the manifestations of diseases associated with PBC?

The manifestations of the following diseases associated with PBC will be discussed:

• Thyroid dysfunction
• Sicca syndrome
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Scleroderma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Celiac sprue
• Urinary tract infections
• Gallstones
• Other associated diseases

Thyroid dysfunction

Up to 25% of patients with PBC develop an autoimmune reaction against the thyroid gland. This reaction results in an inflammation of the gland, called thyroiditis. When the thyroid gland is first inflamed, only a minority of these individuals experience thyroid tenderness or pain. This pain is usually mild and located over the gland in the front of the lower neck. In fact, most people do not experience symptoms from the thyroiditis until some months or years after the autoimmune reaction began. By then, the slow and gradual decrease in thyroid function resulting from the inflammation can cause an underproduction of thyroid hormone, called hypothyroidism.

It should be noted that the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism, which include fatigue, weight gain, and elevated cholesterol, develop gradually and can be quite subtle. Further, they can easily be confused with those of PBC itself. Thus, physicians should periodically test thyroid function in all patients with PBC to detect hypothyroidism and to initiate treatment by replacement of thyroid hormone. Often, however, the thyroiditis occurs and the indications of hypothyroidism are found well before the diagnosis of PBC is made.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis - Symptoms Experienced

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

Please describe the symptoms of your primary biliary cirrhosis.

Comment submissions for this question have ended.
See 21 Viewer Comments

View Comments

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• colchicine, Colchicine - Read about colchicine, a drug prescribed for the pain of gouty arthritis. Side effects, drug interactions, dosage, and preagnancy information is also included in the information.
• Liver Blood Tests - Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, Tylenol liver damage, and more. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels)
• Liver Cancer - Get information on liver cancer, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, staging, prognosis, treatment, and prevention.

Read more Primary Biliary Cirrhosis related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Genetic Links to Rare Liver Disease Found