What is PBC? Let's learn about this disease that affects the liver (Primary Biliary Cholangitis - PBC)

Did you know that the liver is one of the largest organs in our body? It's like a factory in our body. It does a lot of work. But sometimes, our own body's defense system goes astray and starts attacking the liver itself. Today we're going to talk about one such rare, but very important condition to be aware of. It's called Primary Biliary Cholangitis, or `(Primary Biliary Cholangitis - PBC)` for short.

Simply put, what is PBC?

This is an ``autoimmune'' disease. You might think that word is a bit complicated, but it's very simple. It means that our immune system, which protects us from disease, mistakenly attacks our own good cells. In PBC, this attack is directed at the small bile ducts in the liver.

Think of it this way: bile, a liquid made by the liver, is like soapy water that helps our bodies digest food. This bile travels from the liver through small ducts to the digestive system. What happens in someone with PBC is that the immune system attacks these bile ducts and gradually destroys them.

What happens then?

1. Bile accumulates: When the ducts are damaged, bile cannot flow properly and begins to accumulate inside the liver.

2. Inflammation occurs: This accumulation of bile damages the liver cells and causes swelling, or inflammation.

3. Scarring (Fibrosis) occurs: When this damage occurs over time, the liver tries to repair the damage by forming scar tissue. Just like when a wound on our skin heals, a scar forms. This is called `(fibrosis)`.

4. Cirrhosis: When the amount of scar tissue increases too much, the healthy parts of the liver are lost, and the liver becomes like a stone. This is what we call `(cirrhosis)`. If this condition becomes severe, the liver can even fail.

What are the treatments for PBC?

The most important thing to say first is that there is no cure for PBC yet . But don't worry. This doesn't mean that there is nothing we can do. There are very effective treatments available today that can slow the progression of the disease, greatly reduce the damage to the liver, and control the symptoms.

There are two main goals of treatment:

• Slowing down the rate of liver damage caused by the disease.
• Making your life easier by controlling symptoms like itching and fatigue.

There are several main types of medications approved for this purpose. Your doctor will determine which one is best for you based on your condition.

Usually, the doctor will start you on ``(UDCA)`` first. Then they will do blood tests to see how your body is responding to it. If the results are not satisfactory, they may add another drug or switch to another drug.

Let's learn a little more about UDCA.

This `(UDCA)` is a `(bile acid)` that is naturally produced in our body in small amounts. `UDCA`, which is given as a treatment, replaces the harmful bile acids that have accumulated in the liver with this less harmful bile acid. This reduces the damage to liver cells. Simply put, it acts like a protective shield for the liver.

New research and future prospects

Research into PBC continues to be conducted around the world. Drugs used for other conditions, such as Bezafibrate and Fenofibrate, are being investigated to see if they can also be useful in people with PBC. This suggests that more effective treatments may be available in the future. This is very promising.

It's essential to talk to your doctor!

When living with a long-term condition like this, your doctor is your best friend. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have.

• Ask carefully about the medication you are being given.
• Ask what side effects it may have.
• Talk openly about the symptoms you are experiencing and how they are increasing or decreasing.
• Do not stop taking medication or change the dosage for any reason without consulting your doctor.

The more you and your doctor work together, the better your chances are of managing this condition and living a healthy, normal life.