comparison of the prevalence of anti-liver/kidney microsome antibody type-1[LKM-1] in individuals with chronic hepatitis C and those with autoimmune hepatitis

Autoantibodies are frequently found in patients with chronic hepatitis C, which suggests that HCV elicit an immune response in the host]. The relationship of type-2 AIH to chronic hepatitis C [HCV] is an interesting and as yet unresolved problem. Importantly, antibodies to liver/kidney microsome type- I [LKMI], the serologic marker of type 2-AIH, have been recognized in serum of some patients with chronic hepatitis C. Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 [LKM-1] autoantibodies were studied by indirect immuno florescence assay [lIF] and confirmed by immunoblot in the serum of 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] in comparison with 50 patients control [HCV infection] and 50 healthy individuals. anti-LKZM 1 with high titers [>/= 1/160] present in serum of al/patients with AIH-2, whereas they present in titer [