Association of primary biliary cirrhosis with vitamin D receptor BsmI genotype polymorphism in a Hungarian population

We sought to determine the distribution of vitamin D receptor genotypes def ined by the BsmI polymorphism and to investigate their association with bon e mineral density in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Vitamin D rec eptor genotype and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine was determined in 31 female Hungarian patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 51 age-m atched healthy female controls. The genotype frequency (BB: 45%, Bb: 32%, b b: 22%) of the patients was significantly different from the control group (P = 0.01) due to an overrepresentation of the BB genotype, There was an ap parent trend, not reaching statistical significance, for a lower bone miner al density in both the patient and control groups carrying a B allele. In c onclusion, we found a strikingly high frequency of the BB genotype in patie nts with primary biliary cirrhosis, which raises questions about hormonal i nfluences on the development of primary biliary cirrhosis.