Posts Tagged ‘pbc’
What is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis?
What Is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis? Primary sclerosing cholangitis is inflammation with progressive scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts in and outside the liver. Eventually, the ducts become blocked and then obliterated. Cirrhosis, liver failure, and sometimes bile duct cancer develop. * Symptoms begin gradually and include worsening fatigue, itchiness, and, later, jaundice. * An…
Read MorePrimary Biliary Cirrhosis – A MUST read!
What is PBC? Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic (long duration) disease characterized by progressive inflammation and destruction of the small bile ducts within the liver. What are the bile ducts and what do they do? Lined with cells named biliary epithelial cells, the bile ducts are tubules that make up a plumbing system…
Read MorePBC can be treated with Rituximab
PBC can be treated with Rituximab Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, was shown to be safe in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who had an incomplete response to the standard ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy, an open-label study has revealed. Study details available in the February issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf…
Read MoreItching with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Itching with PBC Just about as common as fatigue in PBC, itching (pruritus) of the skin affects 66% of patients at some time during the disease. The itching tends to occur early in the course of the disease, when patients still have good liver function. As a matter of fact, itching can even be the…
Read MoreConsortium Finds Chronic Liver Cirrhosis Clues
Consortium Finds Chronic Liver Cirrhosis Clues Researchers have provided new clues into the genetics underlying a chronic form of liver disease, called primary biliary cirrhosis, which can lead to transplant surgery for patients. The new study identifies 15 genetic regions that affect a person’s risk of developing the disease, more than trebling the number of…
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