What Is Primary Biliary Cirrhosis?
10. Risk Factors
The etiology of primary biliary cholangitis is unknown. However, some factors may increase your risk of primary biliary cholangitis. For instance, sex is an important factor because approximately 75% to 90% of patients with primary biliary cholangitis are women. Age is also important because it’s most likely to occur in people 30 to 65 years old. Also, genetic factors play an important role because you’re more likely to develop the condition if you have a relative who has or had it (570- to 1000-fold with a first-degree family member). Finally, PBC is most common in northern Europe and North America.
Additionally, certain environmental factors can interact with genetic factors in order to trigger the onset of primary biliary cholangitis. These factors include infections (i.e. bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae), smoking, and toxic chemicals.
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