7. Swollen Feet and Ankles: The Fluid Build-Up Dilemma
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Swelling, especially in the feet, paints a painful picture for PBC sufferers. Known as edema, it’s more than just surface-level discomfort. The culprit? Often, it’s fluid leaking into surrounding tissues.
But why this leakage? Here, the liver plays its part. A healthy liver produces albumin. This protein has a vital role: keeping fluids within blood vessels. But in PBC, liver function may falter, leading to insufficient albumin production.
The outcome? Fluid moves away from blood vessels, settling into tissues. The visible manifestation is swollen feet and ankles. Beyond appearance, edema affects daily life, movement, and overall comfort. (7)
