Stages of Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Depending on the extent of damage to the liver, there are 4 main stages of primary biliary cholangitis:
– Stage 1: Damage and inflammation in the walls of medium-sized ducts
– Stage 2: Blockage of the small-sized bile ducts
– Stage 3: Scarring of the liver starts appearing
– Stage 4: Severe, permanent damage and scarring of the liver, also known as cirrhosis, has occurred [2]
Signs and Symptoms of Primary Biliary Cholangitis
More than 50 percent of primary biliary cholangitis cases do not show any clear symptoms during diagnosis. It may take around 5 up to 20 years for the symptoms to develop. At that time, those people with a diagnosis tend to have poorer outlooks. Common signs in the early stages include itchy and fatigue. When the disease progresses, other problems include dry mouth and eyes, swollen spleen, upper right abdominal pain, swelling of the ankles and feet, joint and muscle pain, high levels of cholesterol, brittle and weak bones, darkened skin, yellow eyes and skin, fatty deposits on the skin, unexpected weight loss, underactive thyroid, and diarrhea. [3]
