September 13 - International Primary Biliary Cholangitis Awareness Day

September 13 - International Primary Biliary Cholangitis Awareness Day

Every year on the second Sunday of September, various patient organizations observe International PBC Awareness Day to draw attention to the challenges that patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) face during the diagnostic process and in daily life.

PBC is a chronic liver disease that adversely affects the small bile ducts in the liver through autoimmune mechanisms and disrupts bile flow. Approximately 90% of patients are middle-aged and older women.

In some patients, the disease may progress without any symptoms in its early stages. In those who have symptoms, fatigue and itching are among the most common. Although the course of the disease varies from person to person, regular clinical and laboratory monitoring is of great importance because changes in liver function tests may occur in later stages. Early diagnosis and regular follow-up are important for assessing the course of the disease and managing it appropriately.

At Vefa İlaç, on International PBC Awareness Day, which falls on September 13 this year, we draw attention to the importance of better recognition of the disease and continue to add value to patients’ treatment journeys through our work in healthcare.

REFERENCES PBC Foundation (UK) Ltd. The PBC Foundation: General Information Leaflet. Edinburgh: PBC Foundation; 2018. Associazione Italiana per lo Studio del Fegato (AISF). AISF practice guidance on the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis: A 2026 update. Dig Liver Dis. 2026 Sep;58(9):1124-1138. European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: The diagnosis and management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis. J Hepatol. 2017;67(1):145–172. Carrion AF, et al. Understanding and Treating Pruritus in Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Clin Liver Dis. 2018 Aug;22(3):517-532. You H, et al. Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (2021). J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2023 Jun 28;11(3):736-746.