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Antibodies to single‐stranded and double‐stranded DNA in antinuclear antibody‐positive type 1‐autoimmune hepatitis
Author(s) -
Czaja A J,
Morshed S A,
Parveen S,
Nishioka M
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.510260306
Subject(s) - anti nuclear antibody , antibody , autoimmune hepatitis , immunology , virology , medicine , dna , autoantibody , hepatitis , biology , genetics
Abstract To determine the significance of antibodies to single‐stranded (anti‐ssDNA) and double‐stranded DNA (anti‐dsDNA) in antinuclear antibody (ANA)‐positive type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, sera from 53 patients were tested by enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence using the Crithidia luciliae substrate. Anti‐dsDNA were detected in 18 patients (34%) by ELISA and 12 patients (23%) by the Crithidia‐based assay. Twenty patients with anti‐dsDNA by either assay (38%) had higher serum levels of immunoglobulin G (3971 ± 270 mg/dL vs. 3201 ± 247 mg/dL, P = .05) than seronegative patients. They also had human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR4 more commonly than other patients (83% vs. 41%, P = .006) and normal subjects (83% vs. 30%, P = .00007). In contrast to patients seropositive by the Crithidia‐based assay, those seropositive by ELISA failed corticosteroid therapy more commonly (24% vs. 3%, P = .04). Anti‐ssDNA were found in 45 patients (85%) and they did not distinguish patients with different clinical features or outcomes. We conclude that anti‐dsDNA are common in ANA‐positive type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. HLA DR4 is associated with their production, and seropositivity by ELISA characterizes patients who have a poorer immediate response to corticosteroid treatment. Anti‐ssDNA are common but they do not have important clinical implications.