is it genetic: - PBC Foundation
is it genetic
It is not known for certain but there is research going on at the moment into genetic links.
You could always give the PBC Foundation a ring, I am sure they will be able to advise you. Also if you are interested in taking part in the research.....requires a sample of your saliva and filling out a questionnaire....they could let you know about that too.
It's not a certainty but there are some contributors on here who have a mother or siblings with PBC.
I'm not wholly convinced myself. I think perhaps it appears that way for some in the same family but I think maybe another glitch in the system that can be in the family may be the reason. My brother-in-law was found to have some heart defect a few years ago, he had surgery and is ok now. He has spent a lot of time over the years trying to take care of himself as his father died with a heart attack aged 40 and his dad's sister died in her early 50's with same.
What I mean there as re-reading doesn't sound like I meant, is that we could be born with certain weak parts and for some reason here in PBC that is, somehow one of more of us manage to find the trigger by chance.
In my case my GI believes there may be a genetic link - I was diagnosed 20+ years ago at exactly the same time as my cousin in the States was (I have lived in Australia since I was 10 years old) - which (in my view) challenges the theory of some kind of 'trigger' (i.e. virus etc.) for those pre-disposed to PBC - it would be a very big coincidence indeed that both my cousin and I experienced a virus (or some such thing) at the same time (half a world apart) which 'triggered' our PBC.
i had a transplant 11yrs ago i am 52 and was wondering about brothers and their children