Treatment of Biliary Cirrhosis

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and liver transplantation constitutes the main treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis.

Treatment of biliary cirrhosis includes:

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used for the treatment of PCA. UDCA appears to improve survival and slow the liver damage, thus delaying the requirement for liver transplantation.
Corticosteroids are effective in PCA, however, their harmful effects may outweigh their benefits, and hence they are not used in the treatment of PCA.
Cholestyramine, rifampicin, naloxone and plasmapheresis (procedure used to purify the blood) are useful to treat itching.
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may help to reduce osteoporosis or bone thinning.
Liver transplantation is necessary in cases of severe liver damage.

References:

Simon Hohenester & Ronald P. J. Oude-Elferink & Ulrich Beuers. Primary biliary cirrhosis. Semin Immunopathol (2009) 31:283–307.
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 17^th edition

Published on Feb 10, 2016
Last Updated on Feb 20, 2016

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