Epidemiology of primary biliary cirrhosis in Victoria, Australia: High prevalence in migrant populations

Increased prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis near superfund toxic waste sites

“…Lastly, several studies have shown that the prevalence of PBC within families of affected individuals is significantly higher than in the general population. 13,16 Differences in the local prevalence of PBC have been reported [7][8][9][10]17,18 and may reflect differences in exposure to environmental toxins. However, strong linkage to any specific environmental factor has not been identified except in a Japanese study 18 showing an increased prevalence of PBC in Hiroshima among atomic bomb survivors.…”

“…5,6 Large geographic variations in the prevalence of PBC have been reported. [7][8][9][10] Differences in both genetic susceptibility factors and exposure to environmental toxins are widely believed to contribute to this variability in the prevalence of PBC.…”

Geoepidemiology and changing mortality in primary biliary cholangitis

“…The incidence of PBC rose from 23 per million in 1987 to 32.2 per million in 1994 (91.3-100 per million in women older than 40 years). A study conducted in Australia [12] was repeated in 2002 in the same population [13]; a prevalence of 51 cases per million was found, a rate that was significantly higher than before, due to large migrant ethnic groups, but the age-adjusted prevalence in those born in Victoria remained significantly lower than in the UK and less than in migrant communities. Overall, epidemiological data have shown a trend toward an increasing age of presentation of the disease.…”

Infectious Agents and Xenobiotics in the Etiology of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

“…A population-based study performed in Australia has identified 84 cases of PBC from the region of Victoria using rigorous case-finding methods that included all three major diagnostic criteria and reported a PBC prevalence of 19.1 per million, among the lowest rates ever reported [58]. However, a subsequent study from the same region reported different data on 249 cases with a cumulative incidence almost 10-fold higher than that reported earlier [59]. Importantly, prevalence rates were significantly higher for British, Italian, and Greek immigrants, compared to the Victorian-born population (which clearly recognizes a British background in most cases) thus implying the importance of environmental priming possibly occurring early in life.…”