ABSTRACT
Autoantibodies that target a soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas [SLA/LP] autoantibodies exhibit a high specificity for autoimmune hepatitis [AIM] and they characterize a third subgroup of AIM. These autoantibodies directed against a 50 KD cytosolic protein identified as UGA suppressor serine tRNA-protein complex. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and clinical relevance of anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies in AIH. The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIM], attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in the period between November 2003 and July 2004. The Anti- soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas autoantibodies [SLA/LP] was studied by Euroline method. Anti-SLA/LP was detected in 8 patients [11%] with AIH, with negative finding for antinuclear and liver/kidney microsomal antibodies, marker of two types of AIH, but never in the sera of control groups. The presence of anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies identified additional patients with AIH previously thought to suffer from cryptogenic hepatitis. Since, it was exclusively detected in AIH, this makesg it a diagnostic test for direct clinical relevance
ABSTRACT
Anti-LKM I typically occurs in the absence of SMA and ANA and is the serologic marker of type 2 AIM. The 50 KD antigen of LKM-1 autoantibodies was identified as cytochrome P450 2D6[CYP 2D6]. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and clinical relevance of anti-LKMl autoantibody in AIH Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 [LKM-1] autoantibodies were studied by indirect immuno florescence assay [IIF] and confirmed by immunoblot in the serum of 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] in comparison with 20 patients control [HBV infection] and 20 healthy individuals. Anti-LKMl autoantibodies were present in sera of sixteen patients [22%] with AIH and never in the sera of patients or healthy controls. It was concluded the anti-LKM 1 autoantibodies characterize patients with sever form of the autoimmune disease, poor prognosis and rapid progression to cirrhosis