[Early diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (author's transl)]

Electron microscopic investigations of liver biopsy specimens in 16 patients with a clinically suspected diagnosis of chronic obstructive non-purulent cholangitis as the early stage of primary biliary cirrhosis showed characteristic changes of the intrahepatic biliary canaliculi. These consist of a coarsening and reduction of microvilli, thickening of pericanalicular ectoplasm and intercellular gaps as well as increasing obliteration of the canalicular lumen. Typical primary biliary cirrhosis developed in 6 patients over an observation period of 3 years. The ultrastructural findings may contribute towards identification of morphogenesis of this disease. They are possibly pathognomonic for the early stage of the disease. However, the precipitating factor remains unknown.