Symptoms

More than half the people with primary biliary cholangitis do not have any noticeable symptoms when diagnosed. The disease may be diagnosed when blood tests are done for other reasons, such as routine testing. Symptoms eventually develop over the next 5 to 20 years. Those who do have symptoms at diagnosis typically have poorer outcomes.

Common early symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Itchy skin

Later signs and symptoms may include:

• Dry eyes and mouth
• Pain in the upper right abdomen
• Swelling of the spleen (splenomegaly)
• Bone, muscle or joint (musculoskeletal) pain
• Swollen feet and ankles (edema)
• Buildup of fluid in the abdomen due to liver failure (ascites)
• Fatty deposits (xanthomas) on the skin around the eyes, eyelids or in the creases of the palms, soles, elbows or knees
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Darkening of the skin that's not related to sun exposure (hyperpigmentation)
• Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), which can lead to fractures
• High cholesterol
• Diarrhea, which may include greasy stools (steatorrhea)
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Weight loss