Research advances in central nervous system changes in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease manifesting as cholestasis and is often observed in the middle-aged and elderly women. About 50% of the patients have fatigue and itching, and 20% have depression or mood changes. In recent years, a number of studies have shown that the non-specific symptoms of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), such as fatigue, itching, and cognitive changes, are associated with the structural and functional changes of the central nervous system. Early identification of preclinical PBC patients through brain imaging changes may be one of the ways for the early diagnosis of this disease.