Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

Departments and specialties

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

Research

Mayo Clinic has been conducting research on primary biliary cholangitis for more than 50 years. Many treatments for the disease have been studied at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic was one of the first centers to study ursodiol as a treatment option. Researchers are currently studying new medicines and combinations of therapies for people with only a partial response to ursodiol.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have made many contributions to understanding the genetics of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). They've helped find several gene variations that seem to make people more likely to develop the disease. Their discoveries are the first step toward developing targeted treatments and potentially curing the disease.

Also, researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that first-degree relatives — parents, siblings or children — of people with the disease are more likely to carry an antibody related to PBC. The finding suggests that a simple blood test may help healthcare professionals monitor people for early signs of PBC.

Basic research related to PBC and other liver diseases is conducted in the following Mayo Clinic laboratories:

• Cholangiopathies Laboratory
• Genomic and Exposomic Hepatobiology Laboratory
• Liver Pathobiology Laboratory

Publications

See a list of publications about primary biliary cholangitis by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.