[Bone disease in primary biliary cirrhosis]

Primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC)is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver disease. Metabolic bone disease is recognized in a complication of chronic liver disease, particularly in PBC. Bone disease in PBC includes osteoporosis and, osteomalacia which is more frequent in advanced liver disease. It is important that PBC occurs mainly in middle-aged women who are highest risk group in primary osteoporosis. In patients with PBC, the dysfunction in enterohepatic circulation of bile acids is associated with the impaired absorption of fats and fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin D and K deficiency leads to osteoporosis resulting in increased risk of bone fracture. This article describes the characteristic and molecular mechanism in bone disease of PBC.