The diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis can be made by measuring antimitochondrial antibody with confirmation by liver biopsy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography would not be helpful in this case unless primary sclerosing cholangitis was a consideration. Iron overload (ie, hemochromatosis) would not cause pruritus, and ferritin levels would need to be measured if hemochromatosis was a consideration.
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