Treatment

Although there is presently no cure for PBC, there have been some major breakthroughs in the treatment of the illness in the last few years.

Ursodeoxycholic Acid (250mg) has recently been approved in the UK for PBC. More information is available from either your family doctor or hospital specialist.

A range of treatments is now available which have been found to ease the symptoms. Drugs that dampen down the body's immune system and slow the progression of the disease are also under investigation.

Eating little and often is a good guideline for those who have PBC...Like most chronic liver diseases, PBC can impair the capacity of the liver to break down toxic drugs and chemicals. These include prescribed and over the counter medicines, alcohol and even foods. Proper advice on a healthy and balanced diet is, therefore, important, as a good dietary intake is advisable for maintaining health for people with liver diseases. Eating little and often is a good guideline for those who have PBC as this ensures that the bile acids always have something to work on and this helps to alleviate digestive problems.

As the liver may not be creating the correct balance of minerals and vitamins, the diet should be rich in calcium, vitamins and proteins. As in virtually everybody, foods containing unsaturated fats (such as oily fish) are probably preferable to fatty foods, which are high in saturated fats, but a normal fat intake must be continued. If there is steatorrhoea (fatty stools), specific advice must be sought from the doctor.