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Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)

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Primary biliary cirrhosis

Other Names for this Disease
  • Familial primary biliary cirrhosis
  • PBC
More Names
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Overview


Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic disease that affects the bile ducts within the liver. The bile ducts become inflamed and damaged, which causes bile to build up in the liver. This abnormal buildup destroys liver tissue and results in cirrhosis. Primary biliary cirrhosis usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 and affects women more often than men. The cause of this condition is unknown, but research suggests that it is an autoimmune disease. Ursodiol is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.[1]

References

  1. Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/primarybiliarycirrhosis/. Accessed July 19, 2010.
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General Information

  • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition. Click on the link to view the information.
  • The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), part of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), offers information on this condition. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.  Access to this database is free of charge.  Click on the link to read information on this topic.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Primary biliary cirrhosis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
  • The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Primary biliary cirrhosis. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.