Differential Diagnosis of PBC

Author(s):

Nancy Reau, MD,John Vierling, MD, FACP, FAASLD, AGAF

Key Takeaways

PBC is more prevalent in middle-aged women and presents with fatigue and pruritus, aiding in clinical differentiation.
The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) is a key serological marker, found in 95% of PBC patients.
Elevated alkaline phosphatase levels are indicative of PBC, assisting in distinguishing it from other liver diseases.
Histological features include non-suppurative destructive cholangitis and bile duct destruction, differentiating PBC from other cholestatic liver diseases.

The panel of experts focus on strategies for distinguishing primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) from other liver diseases with similar clinical presentations, emphasizing key diagnostic markers and assessment techniques.