What is biliary cirrhosis?

Biliary cirrhosis is a rare form of liver cirrhosis caused by disease or defects of the bile ducts. Symptoms usually include cholestasis (accumulation of bile in the liver). There are two types of biliary cirrhosis:

• primary biliary cirrhosis - inflammation and destruction of bile ducts in the liver.

• secondary biliary cirrhosis - results from prolonged bile duct obstruction or narrowing or closure of the bile duct.

Last updated 4/08.  Reviewed by Sohrab Mobarhan, MD.