When should a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis receive a transplant?

No single objective criterion for the selection of patients for liver transplantation on the basis of clinical features or laboratory values could be developed. Medical complications such as intractable ascites and variceal bleeding, which were treated by peritoneal shunting and sclerotherapy, did not appear to influence selection. A rising serum bilirubin level, especially over 10 mg/dL, complicated by encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, or intractable pruritus led to patients being selected for liver transplantation.