Arthralgias as a presenting manifestation of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Two patients presenting with arthralgias had associated minor elevations in liver enzymes. Each patient's serum had a cytoplasmic pattern of fluorescence on HEp-2 cells which led to the detection of antimitochondrial antibodies. Liver biopsy in both patients revealed primary biliary cirrhosis. Awareness of this limited, articular presentation of primary biliary cirrhosis may result in early treatment and the potential to arrest liver damage in some patients.