Signs and Symptoms
Individuals with PBC may present with the following:
- Fatigue
- Pruritus (itchy skin)
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), due to increased bilirubin in the blood.
- Xanthoma (local collections of cholesterol in the skin, especially around the eyes (xanthelasma))
- Complications of cirrhosis and portal hypertension:
- Fluid retention in the abdomen (ascites)
- Hypersplenism
- Esophageal varices
- Hepatic encephalopathy, including coma in extreme cases.
- Association with an extrahepatic autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome (in up to 80% of cases).
Read more about this topic: Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
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