PBC Awareness

06/24/2026

If you're living with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), you know how complex liver disease can be. A recent expert interview with Dr. Sarwa Darwish Murad, a leading liver specialist from the Netherlands, shares important updates that affect the PBC community.

What's changing in liver care?

Better awareness of metabolic liver disease: Just like PBC, other liver conditions are becoming more common. This means more research and better treatments for ALL liver diseases.

New treatment options emerging: For years, patients had few options, but now new therapies are finally arriving. This is great news for the entire liver disease community.

Less stigma, better care: Many people still wrongly think all liver disease is caused by alcohol. The medical community is working hard to correct this myth, so we can all get the understanding and care we deserve.

What this means for YOU:

Don't wait to see your specialist—getting care early leads to better outcomes.

Ask about new treatments—options are expanding beyond what was available even 5 years ago.

The main trend is exactly what we have all been discussing over recent years: MASLD is becoming increasingly prevalent. We already know...

06/23/2026

According to a recent study by the Medical University of Bialystok in Poland, 24% of PBC patients are diagnosed with Hepatic Encephalopathy, "despite no evidence of cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis."



https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1896112621000304

06/22/2026

06/19/2026

Exciting progress toward a new treatment option for PBC!

Scientists have identified two immune proteins (CD58 and IL7R) that are elevated in PBC patients and appear to drive the disease. In a study, blocking one of these proteins with an experimental compound significantly lowered liver damage markers in mice—even outperforming the standard medication in one measure.

This is still early research, but it provides a clear "roadmap" for developing targeted therapies, especially for the 30-40% of patients who don't respond well to current treatments. While more studies are needed, this discovery brings hope for more effective options with potentially fewer side effects down the road.

Scientists identified two immune proteins as therapeutic targets that may provide a "roadmap" to new treatments for chronic liver disease.

06/18/2026

Please support our PBC Patient Ambassador, Tom Zimmerman, who represents the Northeastern U.S. region, as he documents his health journey as a newly diagnosed PBC patient. Thank you, Tom, for being an inspiration to so many in the PBC Awareness community!

This is my 6 month update on some of the transitions that I've made...

06/18/2026

The American Transplant Congress (ATC) is the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) and the American Society of Transplantation (AST).

06/16/2026

Good news for newly diagnosed PBC patients!

Your quality of life is likely to remain stable over time. A new study followed people with autoimmune liver diseases (including PBC) for nearly three years and found that overall well-being didn't get worse—in fact, emotional health and worry levels showed modest improvement as patients adapted. The key takeaway?

While symptoms like fatigue or itching may still be challenging, your mental outlook can actually get better with time and support. Women and those with additional autoimmune conditions may need extra attention, so don't hesitate to ask your care team for tailored strategies. Your diagnosis isn't a downward spiral—many people learn to manage and even feel more at ease.

Health related QoL in autoimmune liver disease remained stable over 35 months, with female s*x, MASLD, and ascites linked to poorer outcomes.

06/15/2026

June is Men's Health Month, and while liver disease can affect anyone, men are especially prone to certain types of liver diseases and conditions. Taking preventative steps can improve men's liver health, as well as reduce the risk of developing liver disease.

Here are six tips for men's liver health: https://liver.fyi/menlh6

06/15/2026

May today be the start of a beautiful week, filled with joy, hope, and happiness!

06/12/2026

Attention PBC caregivers in the Cincinnati area... Life Enriching Communities will be hosting a Free Caring for Caregivers event in College Hill on June 18th at 11 am. This event is open to the public but requires advance registration. If you care for a loved one and would like access to caregiver resources, this event is for YOU! Please click on the link below for more information. Register today!

Caring for a loved one at home can be a difficult role, and local leaders say caregivers often neglect their own health while focusing on someone else.