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Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a common cause of chronic cholestatic liver disease in adults. The exact etiology of this autoimmune disease is unknown, although studies in the U.S. and the U.K. have shown that genetic and environmental factors are likely involved. To examine this issue further, investigators in France evaluated questionnaire data about potential demographic, lifestyle, medical, and familial factors potentially associated with PBC provided by 222 PBC patients and 509 controls matched for age, gender, and residential location. More than 90% of the questions were completed by the respondents.
Independent risk factors for PBC included history of PBC in first-degree relatives (odds ratio, 6.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.8–16.…