title: [Fetal microchimerism in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital General Vall d'Hebron. Barcelona. España. aselva@hg.vebron.es
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selva O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balada Prades
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castells Fusté
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vargas Blasco
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solans Laque
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilardell Tarrés
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004247:DNA