Primary biliary cirrhosis: new perspectives in diagnosis and treatment

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune disease characteris ed by cholestatic liver function tests, antimitochondrial antibodies, and a bnormal liver histology. Early descriptions of a rare rapidly progressive d isease no longer reflect the more indolent progress often seen today. Many patients have significant long term morbidity through symptoms such as fati gue and itch with a minority progressing to liver failure and need for tran splantation. The current data on the diagnosis, clinical progression, and t reatment of PBC are reviewed.