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Article: Genetics, environment affect risk for primary biliary cirrhosis.
- Article from:
- Skin & Allergy News
- Article date:
- January 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Two separate studies have produced strong evidence supporting both genetic and environmental risk factors for primary biliary cirrhosis. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Little is known about the cause of this autoimmune cholestatic liver disease that affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States. Primary biliary cirrhosis typically strikes women in the prime of their lives, attacking small ducts of the liver and ultimately requiring a liver transplant.
Symptoms include intractable itching, fatigue, and sometimes jaundice, although today many ...