[Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC): concept, pathogenesis and classification].

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammatory destruction of median size intrahepatic bile ducts. The characteristic histological process is described as chronic nonsuppurative destractive cholangitis (CNSDC). Our knowledge for the pathogenesis of PBC remains incomplete. However, immunological mechanisms seems to play one of the most important role. The immunohistochemical examination represents accumulation of stimmulated T lymphocytes in the portal area. Attachment of CD8 positive T cells to bile duct epithelial cells is observed. The animal model of PBC indicates autoreactive CD4 positive T cells seems to be important at the early stage of PBC and CD8 positive cytotoxic T cells are essential for the progression of the disease. PBC is histologically classified into four overlapping stages by Scheuer. Clinically, PBC is classified into asymptomatic PBC (aPBC), PBC with itching alone (s1PBC) and with jaundice (s2PBC).