Ultrasound measurement of visceral fat in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Purpose: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic, progressive liver disease ultimately leading to hepatic failure and death if not treated by hepatic transplant. Serum lipids are often markedly elevated in PBC, but it is not clear if this hyperlipidemia is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. The metabolic syndrome, which has received increased attention in the past few years, consists of multiple, interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The most important of these underlying risk factors are abdominal o…