Increased prevalence of antimitochondrial antibodies in first-degree relatives of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

AMAs aggregate among FDRs of PBC probands. Our data have clinical implications for FDRs of PBC probands because AMA positivity may suggest susceptibility to PBC. Thus, the identification and follow-up of these relatives may lead to earlier disease diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, if AMA development is heritable, this trait will provide a basis to dissect the genetic predisposition to PBC.