Colangitis biliar primaria

Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory autoimmune cholestatic liver disease characterized by the destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts. It is considered a rare disease that predominates in women with a prevalence of 19 to 402 per million people. It is clinically characterized by fatigue, right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, pruritus, and biochemically with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) elevation at least > 1.5 times normal upper limit and the presence of mitochondrial antibody (AMA) positive at titers of 1:40 or more, liver biopsy is necessary in case of high suspicion and negative AMA or in case of suspected overlay syndrome (HAI/CBP). Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease can significantly improve the course of the disease by delaying liver cirrhosis and its complications and impacting patients’ quality of life.