Biliary cirrhosis is a chronic inflammation of the bile ducts of the liver. Over time, inflammation leads to destruction of the bile ducts, causing a buildup of toxins and irreversible scarring to the liver. In its early stages, the condition is known as primary biliary cirrhosis. While medication may slow its progression, it eventually leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. Its symptoms might go unnoticed for some time, but eventually worsen and become more widespread.
Early Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, some individuals who have been diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis may remain symptom-free for years. Others might experience a range of symptoms that are common in the early stages of the disease. These symptoms include dry eyes and mouth (sicca syndrome), fatigue and pruritis (itchiness). Itchiness can occur on the legs, arm and back and can flare up and then remit. Darkened areas of the skin may develop from excessive scratching.
Progressive Symptoms
As primary biliary cirrhosis progresses, more problematic symptoms can emerge. A common sign of advanced liver disease is jaundice---a medical condition characterized by the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. This pigmentation is caused by a buildup of bilirubin (a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown that is found in bile) in the bloodstream as a result of the bile ducts being destroyed.
Hyperpigmentation or skin darkening may occur anywhere on the skin (even in areas not exposed to the sun) and can cause the skin to appear blotchy. Diarrhea or greasy, bad-smelling stools can develop from increasingly poor digestion, and the body may start to retain salt and fluids, leading to swelling in the hands, feet and limbs.
Serious Symptoms
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, once primary biliary cirrhosis has progressed to cirrhosis, a number of serious complications can occur.
Poor digestion, weight loss, diarrhea and malnutrition can occur as a side effect of jaundice which impairs the small intestine's inability to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
Ascites (swollen abdomen due to fluid build-up) can occur, as can edema (swelling) in the legs. Ascites can lead to the development of a serious bacterial infection called peritonitis---an inflammation of the membrane (peritoneum) lining the abdominal wall and organs.
The liver's ability to filter medications from the bloodstream can also become seriously impaired, making individuals more sensitive to the effects of drugs and more susceptible to becoming sick from medication use. For example, steroids used to treat primary biliary cirrhosis can lead to osteoporosis---a condition in which the bones become fragile and more likely to break.
Other serious symptoms include easy bleeding or bruising and problems with blood clotting, impaired immune system function (leading to increased risk of infection), kidney and lung failure, enlargement of the spleen, portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestines), formation and enlargement of thin-walled blood vessels in the esophagus (varices) or stomach (gastropathy) that are likely to burst and bleed, and insulin-resistance and type II diabetes.
