Master Primary Biliary Cholangitis (Primary Biliary Cirrhosis) with Picmonic for Medicine

The pathophysiology of primary biliary cholangitis involves autoimmune destruction, with the specific mechanism still unknown. It is proposed that autoreactive T cells and anti-mitochondrial antibodies target bile ducts and bile duct epithelium, leading to destruction.

It is important to note that the autoimmune destruction in primary biliary cholangitis occurs via intrahepatic bile ducts damage, with a proposed mechanism that autoreactive T cells and anti-mitochondrial antibodies target bile ducts and bile duct epithelium, leading to destruction.

With destruction of intralobular bile ducts, bile cannot be properly transported, resulting in cholestasis.

Primary biliary cholangitis occurs mostly in middle-aged women and peak incidence is between the ages of 40-50.

This disease is insidious in onset, but often the initial presenting symptom is fatigue, occurring in approximately 65% of patients with this disease.

Due to cholestasis and bile absorption, around 55% of patients become pruritic, which is often another initial presenting symptom.

In addition to jaundice from bile absorption, hyperpigmentation occurs in 25-40% of patients due to increased melanin deposition. Patients can also complain of dark urine and light stools.

Primary biliary cholangitis can lead to significant liver enlargement in approximately 25% of patients, though likelihood increases and enlargement worsens as the disease advances. Hepatomegaly can also be found in previously asymptomatic patients.