Primary biliary cirrhosis-specific autoantibodies in first degree relatives of Greek primary biliary cirrhosis patients

Table 4 Characteristics of first degree relatives according to antimitochondrial antibodies positivity

	AMA positive (n = 20)	AMA negative (n = 121)	P
Demographics
Female	12 (60)	63 (52.1)	NS
Age (yr)	47.8 ± 17.8	40.4 ± 18.0	NS
Proband disease (PBC)	19 (95)	87 (67.8)	0.012
Educational level, %			NS
Primary	41.70	26.50
Secondary	33.30	39.30
Higher	25	34.20
Body mass index (kg/m2)	25.7 ± 3.9	25.7 ± 5.0	NS
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Smoking	8 (40)	30 (27.5)	NS
Daily alcohol intake (g)	19.8 ± 38.2	17.7 ± 43.5	NS
Medical history
Urinary tract infection	11 (55)	33 (27.3)	0.01
Number of UTI events (range)	4 (1-5)	1 (1-2.5)	NS
Sicca symptoms	4 (20)	19 (15.7)	NS
Autoimmune disorders	3 (15)	5 (4.1)	NS
Autoimmune thyroid disease	2 (10)	2 (1.7)	NS
Diabetes	1 (5)	3 (2.5)	NS
Osteoporosis	0 (0)	7 (5.8)	NS
Tonsillectomy	4 (20)	13 (10.7)	NS
Appendectomy	3 (15)	22 (18.2)	NS
Inguinal hernia	2 (10)	12 (9.9)	NS
Laboratory values (U/L)
AST	29.6 ± 11.4	23.6 ± 9.7	NS
ALT	32.6 ± 25.5	26.1 ± 26.4	NS
γ-GT	29.6 ± 24.6	28.9 ± 37.7	NS
ALP	76.0 ± 23.3	73.5 ± 35.7	NS

Data are shown as n (%) or mean ± SD. UTI: Urinary tract infections; AMA: Antimitochondrial antibodies; PBC: Primary biliary cirrhosis; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; γ-GT: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; ALP: Alkaline aminophosphatase; NS: Not significant.