Otherwise known as Primary Biliary Cholangitis or Cirrhosis, is considered an incurable, autoimmune
liver disease where over time an antibody created
within the body attacks and destroys the bile ducts in the
liver. The most common symptom is fatigue, sometimes so severe as to
cause sleep disturbances and depression. "Fatigue is a symptom in up to
85 percent of PBC patients and affects their quality of life and
limits their activities. Fatigue can occur very
early in the course of the disease and does not correlate with
the severity as judged by laboratory tests or liver biopsy ". This chronic inflammation eventually leads to scarring
and liver tissue death resulting in complete liver failure.
The only treatment for End Stage Liver Failure is Liver
Transplantation. The cause and cure of PBC are still unknown.
PBC is more prevalent in women 10 to 1, and is "not" a alcohol
or drug related disease. The most common early symptoms are
itching and fatigue.
Watch two teaching
videos
and learn about PBC.
Early
PBC Link to this article from James Neuberger,
Consultant Physician,Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
PBC is a great article from Medicine.net. Provides
information about all aspects of PBC from diagnosis to
management.
What is Primary Biliary Cirrhosis? Read Howard J. Worman,
MD from the Departments of Medicine and of
Anatomy
and Cell Biology Columbia University
College of Physicians & Surgeons
New York, New York.
Information on the
PBC
Fund the Cure Account at the American Liver Foundation.
All profits from the sale of the stickers on this website are
donated to this account.
Support our efforts to
fund research by supporting our site using the Goodsearch.com
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Profit Corporation.
PBC in the News
Hollywood link gives PBC a face.
Read this uplifting story about the President of the American PBC
Association and American Idol Contestant Jason Castro!
The ASSIST ProgramSM, from Axcan PharmaTM,
helps meet the needs of low income patients who lack
insurance coverage. This program allows for a recurring
30-day supply of URSO ForteTM, URSO 250®,
If you would like to order teaching
brochures for PBC
Please contact Joan Gallagher by phone 800.223.0179.ext.224 or
e-mail her at
jgallagher@liverfoundtion.org
Joan Gallagher
Sr. Program Coordinator
American Liver Foundation
1425 Pompton Avenue
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
973-256-2550 ext. 224
fax 973-256-3214
e-mail
jgallagher@liverfoundation.org
Copyright (c) 2006 American PBC Association All Rights Reserved
