Primary biliary cirrhosis vs primary sclerosis cholangotis

[surgicel]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So looking at my first aid from step 1 both will have an Inc in conjugated bilirubin, but MTB says that primary biliary cirrhosis has normal bilirubin? Is this an absolute or it can be normal or elevated thing?

 

[Apoplexy__]

So looking at my first aid from step 1 both will have an Inc in conjugated bilirubin, but MTB says that primary biliary cirrhosis has normal bilirubin? Is this an absolute or it can be normal or elevated thing?

I dunno how often it would be normal, but I would definitely associate PBC with cholestasis (and therefore inc. conjugated bilirubin). I've seen UWorld questions that test this connection.

 

[Phloston]

My guess would be that bilirubin would actually be variable in both. It is likely that you might see increased direct (conjugated) in either.

The giveaway is that PBC is almost always associated with high cholesterol and pruritis. PSC is usually seen with IBD and elevated ALP.