What Is Primary Biliary Cholangitis?
Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic condition that slowly causes damage to the liver’s bile ducts. In general, the liver products a fluid called bile to help digest food and absorb nutrients. In addition, bile plays an important role in removing toxins and cholesterol. Persistent inflammation in the liver would destroy bile ducts and subsequently cause liver failure. Primary biliary cholangitis mainly occurs in women, but it can also affect men. It is categorized as a form of autoimmune condition, which triggers the immune system to attack healthy tissue and cells. The disease’s progression tends to be slow. There is currently no cure for this condition, but some treatments can help slow down the damage in the early stages. [1]
