Role of liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 with type 2- autoimmune hepatitis

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