New study gives hope for treatment of PBC, the silent liver disease

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease where the small bile ducts of the liver become inflamed. The disease often goes undetected, leading to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and possibly death. But a recent report suggests hope for a cure.

Dieterich says simple blood tests known as the GGTP, an enzyme localized in the liver, and alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos), can indicate inflammation of the liver in PBC. Doctors once referred to the disease as primary biliary cirrhosis due to the ill-fated progression of the disease that leads to liver scarring, the specialist added.

"But now as we are vigilant and pick it up early, we can treat it and now it has been called primary biliary cholangitis, which means inflammation of the bile ducts," the hepatologist told Fox News.