[Current understanding of primary biliary cirrhosis].

Aim: To examine characteristics of the course of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Material And Methods: The study of 150 PBC patients aged 26-82 years used clinical, biochemical, immunological and morphological methods.

Results: Antimitochondrial antibodies of type M2 (AMAM2) were detected in 85.4% patients with PBC. A positive correlation was found between clinicobiochemical activity of the disease and number of AMAM2. AMAM2-positive patients more frequently had extrahepatic manifestations, overlap syndrome, higher biochemical and immunological activity vs AMAM2-negative patients.

Conclusion: The following variants of PBC course were identified: classic AMAM2-positive, AMAM2-negative, overlapping of PBC and autoimmune hepatitis. Concentration of AMAM2 has diagnostic and prognostic value in PBC.