Editorial on: large-scale characterization study of patients with antimitochondrial antibodies but non-established primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of the liver characterized by destruction of the interlobular bile ducts, leading ultimately to an increased risk for cirrhosis, and its consequent complications, such as portal hypertension and increased risk for liver cancer (1). PBC is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Western society. Diagnosis of PBC relies on the finding of cholestatic biomarker elevation and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA); a highly-specific auto antibody present in more than 95% of patients with PBC (2).