Clarissa Brincat

All articles by Clarissa Brincat

• Cholestyramine may ease PBC itching by improving gut health

  The bile-acid lowering medication cholestyramine may ease PBC itching not just by removing bile acids, but also by improving gut health.

• Untreated PBC leads to higher hospital care costs

  People with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who do not receive treatment face much higher medical costs than those who are treated.

• Immune system proteins could be used to diagnose PBC

  Complement proteins could potentially be used to diagnose PBC, predict risk of PBC and spot patients who may develop serious liver damage.

• Review supports personalized therapy for PBC when standard treatment isn’t enough

  Treatment for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) needs to be personalized when the first standard medicine does not work well enough.

• Epstein-Barr virus infections may be linked to PBC

  Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections may be linked to certain autoimmune liver diseases, such as hepatitis and PBC.

• Fatigue is common in PBC and often overlooked

  Fatigue affects about two-thirds of people with PBC and can seriously impact quality of life, according to a recent review.

• Research suggests depression can make chronic liver disease worse

  Depression is common among people with chronic liver disease such as PBC, and can make the condition worse.

• Good nutrition and immune health improve recovery in decompensated PBC

  Good nutrition and immune health may help people with decompensated primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) recover better.

• Gut bacteria may help guide PBC diagnosis and treatment

  Gut bacteria may play an important role in how primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) starts and worsens, according to a recent review.

• Study calls for more treatments that address severe itching in PBC

  Itching negatively impacts patients’ quality of life and work productivity in PBC, but there is currently no way to manage it effectively.