Is Primary Biliary Cirrhosis a rare disease?

Blood tests strongly suggest the correct diagnosis, but a liver biopsy is needed for confirmation. It is also usually necessary to x ray the biliary system to look for other causes of obstruction.

In some patients, the disease destroys the liver in as little as five years. In others, it may lie dormant for a decade or more.

A lack of vitamin metabolism (vitamins K, D, A, E) because of the absence of bile to assist in the absorption of nutrients from the intestines.

Has many features to suggest that it is an autoimmune disease, the system that drains bile from the liver into the intestines is progressively destroyed, the liver becomes scarred, leading to...

Ursodeoxycholic acid, a chemical that dissolves gall stones, provides substantial symptomatic relief. It is still unclear if it slows liver damage. Patients also do well with liver transplantation.