Primary biliary cirrhosis: new perspectives in diagnosis and treatment.
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by cholestatic liver function tests, antimitochondrial antibodies, and abnormal liver histology. Early descriptions of a rare rapidly progressive disease no longer reflect the more indolent progress often seen today. Many patients have significant long term morbidity through symptoms such as fatigue and itch with a minority progressing to liver failure and need for transplantation. The current data on the diagnosis, clinical progression, and treatment of PBC are reviewed.
Prince
M I
MI
Centre for Liver Research, University of Newcastle, UK.
Jones
D E
DE
D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D011379:Prognosis; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology