Who is at risk for developing PBC?

Although anyone can be diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), it is usually diagnosed in women between the ages of 45 to 65 years old. However, women as young as 22 years of age and those in their early 90s have also been diagnosed with PBC. Many of these women also have at least 1 other autoimmune disease.

The essential PBC glossary

As you do your research on PBC, you may come across a lot of words that are new to you. We’ve created a glossary of common terms to help you in your understanding of this disease.

Learn key PBC terms
“When the doctor mentioned [PBC]…I thought, it’s genetic—that I got it from my grandma.” — Wendy, England

PBC by the numbers

  • Up to 55% of patients with PBC also have another autoimmune disease.
  • About 90% of people who have PBC are women.
  • Most people affected by PBC are between 35 and 80 years of age.

Stay in the know

Get access to tools, resources, and educational events, plus connect with other people living with PBC.

Sign up

Although PBC is considered a rare disease, it is also the most common chronic cholestatic liver disease in adult women

  • As many as 1 in 1000 women over the age of 40 have PBC.

    PBC may also run in families, so you might be at greater risk if you have a parent, sibling, or child who has been diagnosed with PBC.

  • Between 1988 and 2015, PBC was the second most common cause of liver transplant for women in the United States.

What are some factors that can affect PBC progression?

How well someone responds to treatment can affect how fast PBC progresses.

  • It is important to address your disease with medication because PBC is chronic and will not go away
  • There is evidence that starting treatment early can help slow the progression of the disease
  • Your healthcare team can see how well your liver is responding to treatment by measuring and tracking your alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels
Close

Get news, tips, and tools specially created for people living with PBC.

Sign up now