Presentation and Diagnosis of PBC

Author(s):

Nancy Reau, MD,John Vierling, MD, FACP, FAASLD, AGAF

Key Takeaways

Fatigue and pruritus are the most common symptoms of PBC, while jaundice and xanthomas are less common.
Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and imaging studies to confirm PBC and exclude other liver diseases.
Elevated alkaline phosphatase and presence of antimitochondrial antibodies are key laboratory markers for PBC diagnosis.
Liver biopsy may be used to confirm diagnosis and assess disease stage, aiding in management decisions.

The panelists discuss the typical presentation of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), covering common and uncommon symptoms, the diagnostic journey, and key clinical and laboratory assessments used to identify disease markers.

EP: 1.Pathophysiology of PBC

Now Viewing

EP: 2.Presentation and Diagnosis of PBC

EP: 3.Differential Diagnosis of PBC

EP: 4.Disease Progression and Extrahepatic Manifestations of PBC

Video content above is prompted by the following:

How do patients typically present
with PBC? What are the most and least common symptoms of the disease?
What is the typical path to a diagnosis for patients with PBC?
What clinical and laboratory assessments do you perform, and what markers do you look for?