PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS IN HLA-IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical twin sisters with chronic live r disease were evaluated. Both had a childhood history of transient ja undice suggestive of a possible infectious cause. Subsequent studies i n both siblings at age 51 years revealed antimitochondrial antibody-po sitive primary biliary cirrhosis. This report documents HLA-identical twins with primary biliary cirrhosis, providing added evidence for a g enetically determined abnormal immune response in this liver disorder, possibly to a specific viral or other environmental factor.