What is the primary treatment goal for patients diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis?

The primary treatment goal for patients diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is to manage the progression of the disease and its complications, which can ultimately lead to liver failure. Liver transplantation is often considered the most definitive treatment for those with advanced disease or end-stage liver failure. The underlying pathophysiology of PBC is an autoimmune process that leads to the gradual destruction of the bile ducts within the liver, resulting in cholestasis and liver damage.

While symptom relief is important for quality of life, and strategies such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) can help in earlier stages of the disease to improve liver function and slow progression, the ultimate goal in cases of significant disease progression is transplantation. Autoimmune suppression may be part of treatment but is not the primary goal as the main therapeutic approach focuses on managing the consequences of the disease rather than just addressing immune activity.

The management of metabolic syndrome, although it could be relevant in some contexts, is not directly related to the treatment goals of PBC and does not encompass the primary concerns of liver health and function in these patients. Therefore, the focus remains on transplantation in those cases where the liver has deteriorated significantly, highlighting its role as a primary treatment aim for