The incidence of autoimmune diseases appears to be increasing in virtually every population. This is well illustrated by primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease characterized by an immune response to small bile ducts and an incidence increasing with age. The etiology of primary biliary cirrhosis remains enigmatic, although there is clearly an interplay of genetics and environment with a possible r...

The aim of this study was to determine the importance of plasma inhibitory factors in producing the impaired phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation that is seen in some patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Twenty-six normal subjects and 12 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were studied. The lymphocytes from each subject were cultured in the presence of autologous ...

1 Drosos AA, Christou L, Galanopoulou V, Tzioufas AG, Tsiakou EK. D-Pencillamine induced myasthenia gravis: clinical, serological and genetic fincings. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1993; 11: 387-91. 2 Dubost JJ, Soubrier M, Bouchet F, et al. Neuromuscular complications of D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis. Rev Neurol Paris 1992; 148: 207-11. 3 Epstein 0, Jain S, Lee RG, et al. D-Pencillamine treatm...

Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis are two most frequently encountered cholestatic condition in adults. Liver transplantation is an excellent option in patients who progress to end-stage liver disease. In these patients typical indications for liver transplantation are no different than in other conditions requiring transplantation. Liver transplantation however might ...

The occurrence of extrahepatic malignancy was studied in 195 unselected patients who satisfied predetermined biochemical, immunological, and histological criteria for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. The incidence of breast cancer in women with primary biliary cirrhosis was found to be significantly higher than in an age and sex matched control population from the same well defined g...

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is an established and accepted treatment of biliary diseases such as gallstones and primary biliary cirrhosis. Mechanisms of action of UDCA are not so far completely elucidated. UDCA tablets are indicated for the dissolution of small to medium sized radiolucent, cholesterol-rich gall-stones in patients with a functioning gall bladderand in the treatment of primary bi...