<unk>  is an autoimmune disease of the liver marked by the slow progressive destruction of the small bile ducts (bile canaliculi) within the liver. When these ducts are damaged bile builds up in the liver (cholestasis) and over time damages the tissue. This can lead to scarring, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure. In 1851, Addison and Gull first described the clinical picture of progressive obstructive jaundice in the absence of mechanical obstruction of the large bile ducts. There is no established system for the classification of<unk> . However, it can be classified into four stages according to histological classification of Ludwig. The exact pathogenesis of<unk>  is not fully understood. It is postulated that<unk>  is the result of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), directed to the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.<unk>  is strongly associated with a variety of rheumatologic conditions, most commonly Sjogren's syndrome. The cause of<unk>  has not been identified fully, some environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, infections and chemical exposure have also been found to play a role in causing<unk> .  The prevalence is estimated to be as high as 1 in 4000 with a female:male ratio at least 9:1. Pharmacologic medical therapies for<unk>  include immunomodulators, antifibrotics, and anticholestatics. The anticholestatic ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) is recommended as the first line medical therapy for<unk> . Surgery is usually reserved for patients with either decompensated cirrhosis and endstage liver failure who do not show any improvement with medical therapy.
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Autoimmune hepatitis
Benign intrahepatic cholestasis
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis
Secondary Biliary Cirrhosis