5 Facts You Want To Know About Living With PBC

When it comes to being a woman there are some health concerns we face more so than men simply
because of our gender make up. We are considered to be more susceptible to some cancers and even
some vascular diseases, so we discuss these with our doctors and we do things at home to help live a
healthier lifestyle that is recommended to lower our risk. Have you discussed or heard of PBC primary biliary cirrhosis, that affects every 1 in 1,000 women over 40? That doesn’t indicate it cannot occur in women younger than 40, but 35-60 seems to be that magic age where it is commonly diagnosed.

What is PBC?

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a liver disease that occurs when autoimmune damage of the bile ducts occur. This results in cholestasis, or a reduction or stoppage of bile duct flow. The bile is the digestive liquid that the liver produces. To stop or block bile flow from the liver means that bile acids stay trapped in the liver which is toxic as opposed to staying on track through the digestive system and eliminated in obvious ways. It’s not good at all and can lead to the need of a liver transplant.

5 Facts You want To Know About PBC

• PBC or primary biliary cholangitis was formerly called primary biliary cirrhosis
• Nearly 90% of people with PBC are women
• Women younger than 25 can be diagnosed, but most cases are diagnosed between 35-60 years of age
• Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in women in the US and PBC is the second leading overall cause in women in the US since 1988!
• More than half the people living with PBC have at least one other autoimmune condition

You can head to LivingWithPBC.com and hear Patient Stories and learn more about ways you can understand PBC diagnosis and the severity and impact of this disease.

Learn more by visiting LivingwithPBC.com