Abstract | AIM: METHODS: AIH was diagnosed on the basis of the scoring system proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Seropositivity for ACA was determined by a discrete speckled pattern on HEp-2 cells by an immunofluorescent technique. The severity of histological grading and staging was evaluated by the histological activity index (HAI) score. RESULTS: Eight (17%) of 47 patients with AIH had ACA. No significant differences in age, sex, onset pattern of the disease, progression to hepatic failure and relapse rate were present between the ACA-AIH and other-AIH groups. The frequency of concurrent autoimmune diseases in ACA-AIH was significantly higher than that in other-AIH (75% vs 36%, P = 0.0406). Biochemical analysis revealed a significantly lower mean immunoglobulin G ( IgG) level than that in other-AIH (2176 +/- 641 vs 3013 +/- 923 mg/dL, P = 0.0150). However, there were no differences in serum alanine aminotransferase levels, titers of ANA, HAI scores or the positive rate of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR4 between the groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the emergence of ACA is not a distinct entity of AIH, despite its clinical characteristics of a significantly higher frequency of concurrent autoimmune diseases and lower serum IgG levels.
|
Authors | Takashi Himoto, Masayuki Murota, Hirohito Yoneyama, Akihiro Deguchi, Kazutaka Kurokochi, Shoichi Senda, Reiji Haba, Seishiro Watanabe, Mikio Nishioka, Tsutomu Masaki |
Journal | Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
(Hepatol Res)
Vol. 40
Issue 8
Pg. 786-92
(Aug 2010)
ISSN: 1872-034X [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 20649818
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|