Autoimmune Cholangitis

Cirrhosis is a liver disease that predominantly affects middle-aged women in life. Although the cause of the disease is unknown, is an autoimmune disease. The name of the disease is not successful, because all people with this diagnosis are at the stage of cirrhosis, as discussed below. This disease is also known as chronic cholangitis not support. The disease is characterized by the production of cholestasis, or decrease or decrease the excretion of bile. It treats other cholestatic diseases called primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The exact cause of PBC is unknown. It is believed that genetic and environmental factors that induce immune system cells or T cells attack the bile ducts, gradually leading to its destruction. This accumulation of toxins in the liver, especially bile acids, the effect produced by a detergent liver cells are damaged. This damage is followed by the development of inflammation, fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis and liver failure.

It has been speculated for several infectious agents that could trigger the disease. Among those who are involved include Chlamydophila pnumoniae propionate - acnes bacteria and certain retroviruses. This has led to studies using anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of this disease. The genetic component is supported by the fact that the disease is more common among relatives of those affected. Finally, fetal microchimerism, namely the persistence of fetal cells in mothers after pregnancy has also been proposed as related to the development of primary biliary cirrhosis.

The ideal treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis should be able to control the inflammatory and destructive processes of the biliary tract and treat symptoms resulting from chronic cholestasis. Primary biliary cirrhosis may have no symptoms for long periods of time and do research by blood tests. Manifestations of PBC include:
* Fatigue: One of the most common symptoms of this disease.
* Pruritus (itching): This symptom can be very intense and it is not uncommon for patients were evaluated by several dermatologists before obtaining a diagnosis.
* Pigmentation of the skin: The skin may become darker in some patients.
* Jaundice: In the later stages may have increased levels of bilirubin in the blood that is manifested by the characteristic yellowing of the skin and sclera (white of the eye).
* Joint pain
* Sjogren's Syndrome: Characterized by the absence of tears or saliva production, causing dry mouth and conjunctival irritation.
* CREST syndrome: A form of localized scleroderma characterized in particular by dysmotility of the esophagus and Raynaud's phenomenon (discoloration of the hands by exposing them to cold).
* Other autoimmune diseases: Hypothyroidism is often up to 20% of patients. Other diseases such as celiac disease and ulcerative colitis are more common among those affected.
* Abdominal pain about 15% of patients have pain in the liver, without clear explanation.
* Osteoporosis: Patients are at risk of osteoporosis, ie, a decrease in bone density, with the risk of fractures.
* High cholesterol: something in common. Fortunately, people with primary biliary cirrhosis have a higher risk of developing complications (atherosclerosis) due to high cholesterol.

Primary biliary cirrhosis has developed very variable. often tends to progress slowly but the years of varying periods of time, gradually, in general. The treatment can slow this trend, but not always able to stop or reverse the damage.