Editorial
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2006; 12(23): 3625-3627
Published online Jun 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i23.3625
Autoimmune liver disease and the Canadian First Nations Aboriginal Communities of British Columbia’s Pacific Northwest
Eric M Yoshida, Mark Riley, Laura T Arbour
Eric M Yoshida, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Mark Riley, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Laura T Arbour, Department of Medical Genetics, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Correspondence to: Dr. Eric Yoshida, Vancouver General Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, 100-2647 Willow Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3P1, Canada. eyoshida@interchange.ubc.ca
Telephone: +1-604-8755371 Fax: +1-604-8755373
Received: December 1, 2005
Revised: December 28, 2005
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: June 21, 2006
Abstract

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a well-known but uncommon chronic liver disease that is presumed to be of autoimmune etiology. Recently, investigations in British Columbia (BC), a province of Canada situated along the Pacific North-West of North America, have suggested that PBC is not a rare disease amongst BC’s Aboriginal (i.e. First Nations) communities. Geographically, BC is adjacent to South East Alaska, an American state that has also reported an increased prevalence of PBC amongst its Aboriginal communities. In this article, the medical evidence supporting a hypothesis of increased risk of PBC amongst BC’s First Nations communities is reviewed. Evidence suggesting that autoimmune hepatitis is also more likely amongst BC’s First Nations communities is also presented.

Keywords: Primary biliary cirrhosis; Aboriginal; First Nations; British Columbia