The etiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains unclear, and at present, this disease is considered to be caused by the combined effect of genetic factors, infection, autoimmunity, and environmental factors. Since infection is the major cause for PBC, scholars have been focusing on the association between chronic microbial infection. Studies have shown that Escherichia coli is the most common bacterium for urinary tract infection (UTI), and recurrent UTI has been confirmed to be a risk factor for the development and progression of autoimmune liver diseases and is closely associated with PBC. This article investigates the association between UTI and PBC and possible mechanisms.
Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology. 2016 Jun [Epub]
Y Xu, J B Wang, S Wang
Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China., Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China., Department of Urology Surgery, First Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.