clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

Patients tend to be between 50-70 years of age, with men and women equally affected.

Presentation is usually with jaundice, followed by pruritus; a sequence that is different from that in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Other common symptoms include:

  • mild epigastric pain
  • anorexia
  • weight loss
  • diarrhoea

Examination:

  • hepatomegaly or palpable gallbladder - quite common
  • splenomegaly and ascites - rare

Fever occurs late.