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Hormonal and Rare Conditions Primary Biliary Cholangitis Symptoms
Symptoms
About PBC

Symptoms

Symptoms of PBC can vary greatly between patients, and some people may be asymptomatic. But the severity of symptoms does not always relate to the degree of liver damage.1

The most common symptoms are:2,3

Pruritus (Itching) occurs in as many as 80% of patients. Fatigue occurs in nearly 80% of patients.

The itchiness that you may experience can also be made worse by certain fabrics, heat, and pregnancy.

It is important to note that symptoms do not correlate with disease severity. Some patients have mild symptoms but have severe disease progression, and vice versa.

Other symptoms can include:2,4

  • Bone and joint aches
  • Dry eyes and mouth
  • Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
  • Small fatty deposits on the skin, often around your eyes (xanthelasmata)

Advanced PBC can cause further complications, such as portal hypertension.1 For more information, take a look at our complications page.

References

  1. NHS. Primary biliary cholangitis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/primary-biliary-cholangitis-pbc/. Last accessed April 2025.
  2. Selmi C, Bowlus CL, Gershwin ME, Coppel RL. Primary biliary cirrhosis. Lancet. 2011;377(9777):1600-1609.
  3. British Liver Trust. Treating primary biliary cholangitis. Available at: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/primary-biliary-cholangitis/treatment. Last accessed April 2025.
  4. NHS. Primary biliary cholangitis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/primary-biliary-cholangitis-pbc/. Last accessed April 2025.