Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Causes

As with most autoimmune diseases, the underlying cause of primary biliary cirrhosis is unknown. It develops when there is an accumulation of T lymphocytes or T cells in the liver, which is a part of the immune system response. In a normally functioning immune system, T lymphocytes recognize foreign invaders and help defend the body against harm, such as bacteria. In individuals affected by primary biliary cirrhosis, the T lymphocyte cells attack and invade the cells lining the bile ducts in the liver, which causes inflammation and destruction of the bile ducts.