The experience of women with primary biliary cirrhosis: a literature review

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a serious and life-threatening illness t hat mainly affects women. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of the ill ness are unclear. The experience of women with this chronic illness has not been explored within nursing research. A review of the literature concerni ng PBC therefore is based on general themes relating to chronic illness, a chronic illness has two meanings: the symbolic significance and the consequ ences for the individual. The symbolic significance of PBC can be related t o symbolism relating to the liver in general and to the general assumption that liver disease is related to alcohol consumption. The consequences for the individual woman with PBC have been described as following a disease ma nagement trajectory. This may include appreciating the major symptoms of th e illness. The main symptoms of PBC are fatigue and pruritus. These are bot h insidious and debilitating symptoms of unclear aetiology that can cause w omen with PBC problems when seeking an illness explanation. The symptoms ma y also interfere with the woman's body image and her caring role. It is sug gested that the factors that relate to PBC may result in social isolation f or women with the illness.