| Abstract | AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate, retrospectively, the frequency of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS: ASCA, IgG, and IgA, were determined by ELISA in sera of 95 PBC patients; 80 healthy blood donors served as controls. RESULTS: The frequency of ASCA (IgG or IgA) was significantly higher in PBC patients than in the control group (24.2% vs 3.7%, P = 0.0001). The frequency of ASCA IgG and ASCA IgA in PBC patients was also significantly higher than that found in the control group (18.9% vs 2.5%, P = 0.0006 and 11.6% vs 1.2%, P = 0.007, respectively). Six patients out of 95 (6.3%) had both ASCA IgG and ASCA IgA; in contrast, none of the control group had both isotypes (P = 0.02). There was no correlation between ASCA levels and mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) titres in PBC patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ASCA are common in patients with PBC. |
| Authors | Wahiba Sakly, Moncef Jeddi, Ibtissem Ghedira
(Affiliation: Research Unit of Auto-immunity and Allergy (03UR/07-02), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.)
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| Journal | Digestive diseases and sciences
(Dig Dis Sci)
Vol. 53
Issue 7
Pg. 1983-7
(Jul 2008)
ISSN: 0163-2116 United States |
| PMID | 18049897
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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| Chemical References |
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| Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antibodies, Fungal
(blood)
- Case-Control Studies
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Humans
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary
(immunology, microbiology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(immunology)
- Statistics, Nonparametric
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