[Fetal microchimerism in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis].
BACKGROUND
Fetal microchimerism (FM) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of FM in PBC patients.


METHODS
FM was studied in 28 women, 14 with PBC and 14 healthy controls.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells, and a PCR analysis to detect a specific Y-chromosome sequence was performed. Specificity was confirmed by Southern-blot analysis.


RESULTS
The Y-chromosome sequence was amplified from peripheral-blood cell DNA in only one PBC patient and in none of the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
FM does not seem to play a major role in patients with PBC.
Selva O'Callaghan
Albert
A
Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital General Vall d'Hebron. Barcelona. España. aselva@hg.vebron.es
Balada Prades
Eva
E
Castells Fusté
Lluís
L
Vargas Blasco
Víctor
V
Solans Laque
Roser
R
Vilardell Tarrés
Miquel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D004247:DNA