Primary biliary cirrhosis

Alternative names:

PBC

Symptoms:

• itching
• jaundice
• enlarged liver
• abdominal pain
• fatty deposits under the skin
• skin, abnormally dark or light
• soft yellow spots on the eyelid
• fatty stools

Signs and tests:

Tests that confirm cirrhosis:

• a liver biopsy
• an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)

Tests that reveal liver dysfunction:

• liver function tests
• mitochondrial antibodies

Serum cholesterol and lipoproteins may be increased.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• haptoglobin
• ACE levels