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Natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Abe Masanori,
Onji Morikazu
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2008.00351.x
Subject(s) - ursodeoxycholic acid , primary biliary cirrhosis , medicine , asymptomatic , natural history , gastroenterology , hepatocellular carcinoma , esophageal varices , cirrhosis , stage (stratigraphy) , portal hypertension , paleontology , biology
The natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has improved significantly over the last two decades. Most patients are diagnosed with asymptomatic PBC (a‐PBC). The prognosis of a‐PBC is usually better than that of symptomatic PBC (s‐PBC). Among a‐PBC patients, some remain asymptomatic, whereas others progress to s‐PBC. The prognosis of s‐PBC is still poor and the main cause of death in PBC is liver failure. Other complications, such as esophageal varices and hepatocellular carcinoma, also affect the prognosis of PBC patients. Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment improves the prognosis of PBC patients in the early stage. There seems to be several types of PBC progression.