Primary biliary cirrhosis: Environmental risk factors

Issue title: Transient Environmental Agents Involved in the Cause of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dronamraju, Deepti | Odin, Joseph | Bach, Nancy

Affiliations: Department of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Nancy Bach, MD, Division of Liver Diseases/ Transplant Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Box 1101, 5 East 98th Street, New York, New York 10029, USA. Tel.: +1 212 241 0034; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of unclear etiology. It is a chronic, progressive condition that causes intrahepatic ductal destruction ultimately leading to symptoms of cholestasis, cirrhosis and liver failure. The disease predominantly affects middle aged Caucasian women. It has a predilection to certain regions and is found in higher incidences in North America and Northern Europe. It also has a genetic predisposition with a concordance rate of 60% among monozygotic twins. Combinations of genetic and environmental factors are proposed in the pathogenesis of this disease with a compelling body of evidence that suggests a role for both these factors. This review will elucidate data on the proposed environmental agents involved the disease's pathogenesis including xenobiotic and microbial exposure and present some of the supporting epidemiologic data.

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2010-0770

Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 323-328, 2010