TY - JOUR
T1 - Apocalypsal versus apocryphal
T2 - The role of retroviruses in primary biliary cirrhosis
AU - Gershwin, M. Eric
AU - Selmi, Carlo
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - The etiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), much like that of other autoimmune diseases, remains enigmatic. In the case of PBC, several candidates have been proposed, including bacteria, chemicals, and retroviruses. The support for a retroviral etiology has led to a pilot therapeutical interventional program. However, there is limited objective data which can be used to support such a thesis. Until reproducible and mechanistically sound data can be offered, we suggest that pharmaceutical trials are unrealistic and should be discouraged.
AB - The etiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), much like that of other autoimmune diseases, remains enigmatic. In the case of PBC, several candidates have been proposed, including bacteria, chemicals, and retroviruses. The support for a retroviral etiology has led to a pilot therapeutical interventional program. However, there is limited objective data which can be used to support such a thesis. Until reproducible and mechanistically sound data can be offered, we suggest that pharmaceutical trials are unrealistic and should be discouraged.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.41157.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.41157.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15571582
AN - SCOPUS:11144330924
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 99
SP - 2356
EP - 2358
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 12
ER -