Autoimmune reactions in Egyptian children with hepatomegaly

ABSTRACT

Our study included 52 children having hepatomegaly along with 20 controls, their ages ranged from 1-18 years. The aim of this work is to search for autoantibodies in the different liver diseases. The correlation between their presence and the clinical and biochemical data is 'evaluated. Cases and controls were submitted to full sheet, general laboratory tests and special investigations to determine the aetiology as far as possible. Special investigations included, liver function tests, detection of anti-specific liver antigen [ALSP] by double diffusion on agar, non-specific liver antibodies [ANA, AMA, ASA] by indirect immunofluorescent test, HBsAg by hemagglutination test and serum immunoglobulins [IgG, IgM, IgA] by immunodiffusion. Liver antigen was prepared by gel filtration chromatography from rabbit liver. Autoantibodies, ALSP, AMA, ASA and ANA were present in 44.23%, 44.23%, 30.77% and 7.69% in all cases with hepatomegaly respectively. HBs Ag could not be detected except in 1.92% of all cases. Liver function tests were significantly increased in all groups for most of them. lgG and IgM were raised in all groups above the normal values. IgA was within normal limits. No correlation was present between liver specific autoantibodies [ALSP] and the non-organ specific autoantibodies. ALSP is present more in chronic cases, but it could also be detected in acute cases. ALSP could be used for diagnosis of certain types of liver disease. Also to detect pathological cases of hepatomegaly in children