[Primary biliary cirrhosis as seen by the rheumatologist. Apropos of 2 cases]

The authors report 2 cases of primary biliary cirrhosis associated with scleroderma (calcinosis, Raynaud's syndrome, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) in one case, and associated with pseudopolyarthritis in the other; they recall the conditions under which the rheumatologist may be led to make the diagnosis of this disease. Apart from liver diseases including acute or chronic rheumatic signs, one may observe in primary biliary cirrhosis without symptoms certain other rheumatological syndromes: e.g. scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Charcot's joint. The laboratory examinations may give unexpected results: e.g. high levels of IgM, the presence of antinuclear antibodies or may give unexpected results: e.g. high levels of IgM, the presence of antinuclear antibodies or cryoglobulins which sometimes orient wrongly the diagnosis in other directions. One may thus note that a high level of alkaline phosphatase should suggest in any case of inflammatory rheumatism, primary biliary cirrhosis, and attempt to prove this by seeking antimitochondrial antibodies.