autoimmunity microbiome program
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the small bile ducts in the liver.
Overview
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the small bile ducts in the liver. Over time, this can lead to scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, and liver failure. It affects about 1 in 1,000 women over 40 in Australia, with women making up 90% of cases (Better Health Victoria, 2023).
Common Misunderstandings
Many confuse PBC with alcohol-related liver disease — but alcohol is not a cause. Patients often feel frustrated by fatigue and itch (pruritus), symptoms that don’t match “normal” liver function test results early in the disease.
How is Scleroderma Linked to Your Microbiome?
- Studies show altered gut microbiomes in PBC, with reduced diversity and shifts in bile-acid-modifying bacteria (Tang et al., 2018).
- Dysbiosis may disrupt bile acid signalling (FXR/TGR5 pathways), influencing immune tolerance in the liver (Lv et al., 2016).
- Oral microbiome changes have also been noted, suggesting a possible gut–oral–liver immune link (Liu et al., 2021).
- Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in small case series has shown improvements in liver enzymes and symptoms, but this is experimental (Wang et al., 2020).
Been diagnosed with Scleroderma?
Addressing the microbiome might help you.
The Microbiome Clinic™ offers thorough testing and tailored microbiome treatment plans grounded in science.
