Prognosis and Duration of disabling effects

People with few or no symptoms at diagnosis develop some symptoms within five to seven years. Progression is however very variable and some people remain relatively well for many years, surviving at least twenty years. Overall the disease reduces life expectancy.

Factors associated with a poor outlook are weight loss, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), increasing age, increasing jaundice and evidence of impaired liver function. People presenting with jaundice survive on average less than five years.

One year survival after transplantation is 85-90% with a good outlook thereafter.

In about 10% of people undergoing transplantation the disease recurs in the new liver a few years later.

If evidence shows that the customer has liver failure, which may have resulted from primary biliary cirrhosis then go to Liver Failure guidance.

For further information about cirrhosis go to Cirrhosis guidance.

All information must be taken into account when considering the duration of disabling effects and the duration of disabling effects must be based on the particular circumstances of the individual claimant.