Primary biliary cholangitis is a liver disease that may remain completely asymptomatic in its early stages, making it particularly difficult to diagnose. The condition primarily affects the liver and is described as a "silent" disease, as it often presents no signs in its initial stages.
The pathology predominantly affects women in the age group between 40 and 60 years old, although it may occur in other age groups and in men, albeit less frequently. This female predominance in the incidence of the disease is one of the most relevant epidemiological findings.
The first symptoms of primary biliary cholangitis are easy to undervalue, which contributes to significant delays in diagnosis. This difficulty in recognizing the initial signs represents an important clinical challenge, as early detection is fundamental for the effective treatment of the condition.
The article aims to raise awareness about the signs that may raise suspicion of the disease, encouraging the at-risk population, especially middle-aged women, to be attentive to manifestations that may easily be confused with common complaints or attributed to the stress of daily life.
