Early features of primary biliary cirrhosis: an analysis of 85 patients.
A standardized clinical, laboratory, and histological assessment was carried out on 85 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis within 1 year of developing symptoms. Presenting symptoms included pruritus (n = 30), jaundice (n = 9), variceal bleeding (n = 6), ascites (n = 5), fatigue (n = 4), and abdominal pain (n = 4). Ten patients had symptoms not immediately suggestive of hepatic etiology and a further 17 were asymptomatic, the diagnosis being made fortuitously. Eighty four percent were not incapacitated and 52 were anicteric. Less than half were pigmented, 22% had xanthoma, and only 12% were deeply jaundiced. In contrast, all had significant laboratory abnormalities with alkaline phosphatase activity greater than 400 IU/L in 60% and IgM greater than 2.5 g/L in 75%. Mitochondrial antibody was detectable in 83% with a titer greater than 1:160 in 70%. Cirrhosis was present in 24 patients, nine of whom were anicteric and a further 11 had fibrosis or scarring.
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase