Chronic liver cirrhosis clues: Study finds 15 new genetic signposts for primary biliary cirrhosis
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - 19:30
in Health & Medicine
Researchers have provided new clues to the genetic causes of primary biliary cirrhosis -- a chronic form of liver disease, which leads to transplant surgery for the majority of patients. The results more than triple the number of genetic regions known to be implicated, pinpointing key immune processes that underlie susceptibility and could provide targets for the development of new therapies. The team suggests that some of the regions are also implicated in other autoimmune diseases.