Anti-liver membrane antibody predict outcome of autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract EN

Background : Autoantibodies against liver membrane are the specific autoantibodies found in AIH.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 has been identified as the target autoantigen for these autoantibodies.

The aim of the study : is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical relevance of LMA in AIH.

Methods: The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) of unknown cause, attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in a period between November 2003 and July 2004.

Anti-liver membrane antibodies were studied by IFA technique.

Results : LMA was detected in the sera of 28 (57.14)and 3 (37.5 %) patients with type 1 and type 3 AIH respectively, but never in the sera of healthy group.

Conclusion : It was concluded that LMA is present in type-1 and type-3 AIH but not in sera of patients with type-2 or in healthy control group.