The primary gallcholangitis (CBP) is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects women and people who had a female task at birth (Afab, for his acronym in English). CBP influences the liver and, if not, can cause serious problems such as cirrhosis and liver failure.
Good news is that there are available treatments that could be useful to reduce the symptoms and stop the progress of the disease.
We communicate with Nancy Reau, MD, deputy director of permanent organ transplants and chief of the Hepatology section of the Rush University Medical Center to get verified information and tips on checking the CBP.
What is the CBP?
Primary gallcholangitis (CBP) occurs when your own immune system reacts against you and attacks small bile ducts in the liver. This leads to an accumulation of galls and a blocking of the bile flow (cholestasis), which causes the bile ducts to ignite and the liver cells deteriorate. This deterioration causes scars, which is referred to as fibrosis. Over time, scar tissue replaces the healthy tissue (which is referred to as cirrhosis) and the bile ducts deteriorate, which causes the liver that deteriorate over time.
What are the risk factors of the CBP?
We do not understand all factors, but the family history of CBP or immune disorders are probably the most important factors. Traditionally, it was assumed that CBP was only a disturbance that only influenced medium -sized white women, but we find CBP in men, in people of several races and also in young and old people. However, CBP is even more common in women than in men.
What are the symptoms of the CBP?
Many people with CBP have no symptoms that are specific for this disorder, and if they have them, the symptoms vary for every person. The most common initial symptoms are itching (referred to as pruritus) and fatigue. CBP people could also suffer from abdominal pain; Dressing skin; Small yellow or white protuberces under the skin (xantomas) or around the eyes (Xantelasmas); Dry mouth and eyes; And bones, muscles and joint pain.
Other signals and symptoms can include dry syndrome, which is a chronic dryness of the eyes and mouth and the high cholesterol.
Many people who suffer from CBP have no symptoms, apart from itching and tiredness in the early stages of the disorder. If you have CBP symptoms, you should talk to your medical provider (HCP) about it.
How is CBP diagnosed?
It could be difficult for medical care to initially issue a CBP diagnosis, since the disorder cannot have specific symptoms such as itching and fatigue. However, there are various options for how the CBP can be diagnosed.
Blood tests can demonstrate higher mirrors of an enzyme that is called alkaline and bilirubinphosphatase, as well as an immunindicist that is referred to as antimitocondrial antibodies.
The CBP is diagnosed if the blood tests of a person have high alkaline phosphates due to changes in the bile flow (called cholestasis) and the presence of antimitation antibodies.
If the results of the blood tests are ambiguous, a liver biopsy or other tests of the immune system could be carried out to diagnose the disorder if liver failure is concerned (due to high bilirubin levels).
What are the treatments for primary gallcholangitis?
There are some approved medication that are useful for the control of the CBP. Most therapeutic plans begin with the frontline therapy, which means that it is the first drug that your medical provider will test. Your doctor usually expects an improvement in blood tests to confirm that the medication works. If there is a biochemical reaction for the first therapy after 12 months, your doctor could consider additional therapeutic options. In some cases, other therapies could be taken into account after 6 and 12 months depending on the clinical criteria and the individual trends of blood tests. The second line treatments that can be used in combination with the first options or individually have shown improvements in liver enzymes and could be useful to relieve symptoms such as itching. Your medical provider should always make therapeutic decisions that are on your specific clinical profile.
Are there lifestyle changes that could be useful to maintain your health if you live with CBP?
Every patient should talk to their medical provider about therapeutic and care methods, but in general we humans motivate people with CBP to concentrate on a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a diet that is rich in integral food, fiber and lean proteins. People who live with CBP should also focus on their bone health because osteopenia and osteoporosis are more common in people with CBP. It is also recommended to stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
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What advice are useful to cope with your health if you have CBP?
First, you have to take care of your health. You know what medicine you take and whether it works. This is really difficult for CBP because significant changes in a “good response to treatment” have looked at. Make sure you and your doctor have updated information. Make sure you find a medical provider who listens to what you say and with whom you can effectively communicate in terms of therapeutic goals. Your liver tests are useful to determine whether the treatment works. So make sure what values are good for you and your medical providers.
You should also evaluate your thyroid function once a year once a year and monitor your bone health, as the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis has a higher risk.
Life with CBP can also be difficult from an emotional point of view. It is therefore important to have a good support system to take care of your mental health. In addition to family and friends, patient consciousness groups and virtual communities can offer consolation, advice and emotional support.
Finally, speak to your relatives. Although this is not fixed in current guidelines, we recommend speaking to your first relative (sisters, daughters and mothers) to your medical supplier to examine you because we know that you have a higher risk. Although CBP is less common in men, you should also speak to your medical providers if you have symptoms.
This educational resource was created with the support of Gilead.