PBC Foundation

The PBC Foundation is a charity offering support and information to PBC sufferers, their families and friends.

The PBC Foundation is the only UK organisation exclusively dedicated to providing support and information to those affected by PBC.

What is PBC

PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis) is a long-term, auto-immune condition which affects the liver. In simple terms, the body thinks that the bile ducts within the liver are foreign objects and tries to destroy the lining to these ducts. These bile ducts are designed to allow the flow of bile from the liver, so damage of these ducts leads to poor drainage of bile acids. The bile acids then leak from the bile ducts, damaging surrounding liver cells, which then causes inflammation and scarring in the liver.

Whilst we know there is a genetic element to PBC and it is thought to be within the auto-immune family of conditions, we do not know what causes PBC or what can cure PBC. The diagnostic tool for PBC is the AMA blood test (antimitochondrial antibody) and it is 95% accurate.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid is currently the only approved medical treatment for PBC. This is a bile salt which enables bile to be drained from the liver, slowing down the progress of the condition in terms of cell change, and often results in lower Liver Function Tests (LFTs). There are other medications available to alleviate most of the symptoms of PBC.