How is primary biliary cirrhosis diagnosed?
PBC diagnosis is based on several pieces of information. The patient may have symptoms (itching) suggesting bile duct damage. Laboratory tests, such as the alkaline phosphatase activity test, may confirm this. Patients are diagnosed with routine liver blood tests, but a liver biopsy is recommended to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the severity and extent of liver damage. Primary biliary cirrhosis is slow to evolve. Patients can lead active, normal, and symptom-free lifestyles for more than 10 years after diagnosis, but most patients eventually develop liver failure with its complications.
