title: Primary biliary cirrhosis as a collagen disease.
abstract: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a disease of the small bile ducts with altered immunologic responsiveness often associated with various collagen diseases. All appear to be mediated by immune complex deposition. They probably are all different clinical manifestations of the same disease with different expressions determined by genetic and acquired factors. Therapy should be directed to the most immediate life-threatening problem.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000150:complications; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010396:Penicillamine; D001241:Aspirin