Primary biliary cirrhosis describes a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the bile ducts in the liver. The bile ducts carry bile, a yellowish-brown substance produced by the liver, to the gallbladder and then to the small intestine to aid in the breakdown of fats. Inflammation of the bile ducts inhibits the flow of bile causing bile to build up in the liver, which can damage liver tissue. Although the exact cause of primary biliary cirrhosis remains unknown, several factors contribute to the disease.
Sclerosing cholangitis, more often called primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC, causes narrowing and scarring of the bile ducts that lead to the liver. This disorder often occurs in people with autoimmune disorders such as sa...
Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver deteriorates over time, causing scarring and chronic damage. The liver is a large organ that sits in the upper abdomen and helps control infections, remove toxins from the blood, make...
Chronic obstruction of the biliary system causes a backup of bile in the liver, leading to damage and tissue scarring. Extensive bile-induced scarring that distorts the structure and function of the liver is called biliary cirr...
Cirrhosis is the slow deterioration of the liver, which can lead to liver failure. Due to chronic disease, healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which inhibits normal blood flow throughout the liver. The scar tissue ...
The ratio of scar tissue to regenerating cells determines the size of the nodules, with more scar tissue resulting in smaller nodules. Cirrhosis has traditionally been classified as macronodular or micronodular, based upon the ...
A healthy liver is capable of regenerating damaged tissue, but chronic injury can lead to the development of scar tissue, a condition called fibrosis, which is permanent and nonreversible. Scarring causes reduced blood flow and...
