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Dry skinHives " � Red, puffy areas that happen where a person scratches or rubs the skin.Dark patches on the skinYellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes " � This is called "jaundice. " �Pain in the jointsDry eyes and mouthBelly pain (on the upper right side of the belly)Losing weight without tryingMemory and thinking problems
Is there a test for primary biliary cirrhosis? " � Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. Tests include: � �
- Blood tests " � This test can show if PBC or another condition is causing the symptoms.
- Liver biopsy " � For this test, a doctor puts a needle into your liver and takes out a small sample of tissue. The sample helps doctors make sure PBC is the cause of symptoms. It also tells doctors how much damage there is.
Some people have imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body. � �
How is primary biliary cirrhosis treated? " � Doctors treat PBC with medicines to slow down the liver damage. Other treatments include: � �
- Diet changes " � For example, some people with PBC need to eat less fat.
- Vitamins " � Some people with PBC do not get enough of certain vitamins from food. If you are not getting enough vitamins, the doctor can tell you which vitamins to take and how much. Do NOT take any vitamins or medicines without talking to your doctor or nurse first.
- Medicines to treat health problems caused by PBC, such as itching or anemia (having too few red blood cells)
- Liver transplant " � If your PBC is severe, or the medicines to slow down liver damage do not work, you might need a new liver. During a transplant, a doctor does surgery to replace the damaged liver with a healthy one.
Ask your doctor if you might need a liver transplant for PBC. If you do, your doctor will do more tests to make sure you are healthy enough for this kind of surgery. Then your doctor will put you on a waiting list for a liver transplant. Liver transplants are given to people with the most damaged livers first. People often have to wait up to 2 years for a new liver. � �
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 83040 Version 3.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 � �
� � 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. � �
figure 1
Organs inside the abdomen (belly)
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Organs inside the abdomen (belly)
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