Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by microarchitectural malformation, low bone mass, and structural weakness in the bones. There are several ways osteoporosis can develop in a patient who has impaired liver function due to primary biliary cholangitis. Bone maintains its strength and integrity through a complex balance of breakdown and rebuilding processes in an individual's body. This balance is regulated by hormones and other mechanisms that depend on an adequate supply of calcium and vitamin D, a balanced hormonal environment, the right amount of mechanical stress, and good nutrition. When any of these factors are altered abnormally, the delicate balance of bone breakdown and regeneration is interrupted. Primary biliary cholangitis can cause problems with the absorption and or metabolism of calcium and vitamin D, disrupt healthy levels of certain hormones, and interfere with an individual's utilization of nutrients that come from the food they eat. When this condition produces an alteration in the bone breakdown-regeneration balance, the patient can develop osteoporosis.

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Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a term used to describe when abnormal cells that rapidly grow and divide develop into a mass or tumor that obstructs the functionality of the organ, crowds out healthy cells, and causes damage to the affected tissue. Liver cancer can be a life-threatening disease and most commonly develops in individuals with some prior history of problems with their liver. The liver is responsible for filtering wastes, toxins, and other harmful substances from an individual's blood to stop other organs and structures from becoming damaged or toxic. Because the cells of the liver come in contact with harmful substances and toxins frequently, they already have a high turnover rate compared to other tissues. Liver diseases, such as primary biliary cholangitis, cause the cell turnover rate in the liver tissues to compound because it produces severe inflammation and damage to the liver cells. A high rate of cell turnover provides more opportunity for a genetic mutation to occur that can cause carcinogenesis in the liver cells.