Primary Biliary Cholangitis

1 medicine

Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic autoimmune liver disease that slowly damages the bile ducts, causing bile to build up and injure the liver. It has no cure but responds well to ursodeoxycholic acid, which protects liver function for years.

Urso

Ursodeoxycholic acid

150/300mg

Urso is a digestive health medication containing Ursodeoxycholic acid, available as 150/300mg tablets.

from $1.07 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system slowly destroys the small bile ducts inside the liver.
  • Bile backs up and causes inflammation, and over years, scarring; most people diagnosed are women over 40, often found through routine blood tests before symptoms appear.
  • First-line treatment is ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile acid that improves bile flow and reduces the toxic build-up that damages liver cells.
  • See a doctor for unexplained itching, right-sided abdominal discomfort, or persistent fatigue, since these can point to liver disease worth investigating early.

What is actually going on

In PBC, the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the bile ducts that carry bile out of the liver. As the ducts narrow and disappear, bile accumulates inside the liver instead of draining normally, and the resulting inflammation causes progressive scarring. Many cases are picked up incidentally, when a routine blood test shows raised liver enzymes well before any symptoms develop.

How PBC is treated

There's no cure, but treatment can significantly slow the damage and ease symptoms such as fatigue and itching. The mainstay is ursodeoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring bile acid that improves bile flow and lowers the toxic bile-acid load that injures liver cells. Started early and taken consistently, it reduces liver enzyme levels and, for many people, delays progression to cirrhosis. PBC falls under the broader umbrella of digestive health care, alongside other conditions that affect the liver and gut.

Ongoing monitoring

Regular blood tests, checking liver enzymes and bilirubin, along with periodic imaging, remain essential once PBC is diagnosed. How the numbers respond to treatment guides decisions about long-term management and whether additional therapy is needed.

When to see a doctor

Talk to a doctor about liver function testing if you notice unexplained itching, discomfort on the right side of your abdomen, or fatigue that doesn't resolve. Early diagnosis gives treatment the best chance of protecting the liver over the long term.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.