Twenty three patients with primary biliary cirrhosis surviving for greater than 1 yr after liver transplantation were studied. All reported marked symptomatic improvement, and had significant falls in serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.0001), immunoglobulin M, and antimitochondrial antibody levels (p less than 0.005). Beyond 1 yr, liver biopsies showed features compatible with disease recurrence in 9 of 10 patients, and a further 4 patients developed pruritus or associated abnormalities. Immunoglobulin M levels were raised in 80%, with elevated antimitochondrial antibody titers in all those tested. Cyclosporine treatment in some patients initially given prednisone and azathioprine was followed by regression of histologic abnormalities. Of 102 patients with nonprimary biliary cirrhosis followed similarly, 50 underwent biopsy, and although 12 showed features of bile duct damage, all had additional histologic and clinical changes supporting an alternative diagnosis. These findings are consistent with previous reports that primary biliary cirrhosis can recur after transplantation, possibly modified by the use of cyclosporine.