Premium
Significance of antibodies to soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas: a large French study
Author(s) -
Eyraud Violaine,
Chazouilleres Olivier,
Ballot Eric,
Corpechot Christophe,
Poupon Raoul,
Johanet Catherine
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.01986.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis , primary sclerosing cholangitis , gastroenterology , antibody , cirrhosis , liver disease , hepatitis b , autoimmune hepatitis , hepatitis c , primary biliary cirrhosis , immunology , disease
Background: Antibodies to soluble liver antigen (SLA)/liver pancreas (LP) are generally considered as highly specific diagnostic markers of type 1 auto‐immune hepatitis (AIH‐1), and are particularly useful in patients without conventional antibodies. However, the presence of anti‐SLA/LP in type 2 auto‐immune hepatitis (AIH‐2), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and hepatitis C has recently been reported. The aim was thus to describe the characteristics of anti‐SLA/LP‐positive patients in the largest series reported to date. Methods: Sera were selected from the period between 1998 and 2005, based on the presence of antibodies to SLA/LP detected by two methods. The clinical status of patients was determined from their medical records. Results: Eighty‐one anti‐SLA/LP‐positive patients with available clinical data were included: 89% (72/81) had a diagnosis of AIH‐1, including 10 (12%) associated with cholestatic diseases (primary biliary cirrhosis in seven cases and PSC in three cases). Six patients (7%) suffered from another liver disease: hepatitis C ( n =3) and drug‐induced hepatitis ( n =3). No specific diagnosis was made in three patients. Conclusions: Antibodies to SLA/LP are of a major diagnostic value for AIH‐1, including paediatric forms and overlap syndromes with cholestatic diseases, but are not found in association with anti‐liver/kidney/microsome type 1 or antibodies to liver cytosol type 1. They are rarely present in other liver diseases such as hepatitis C and drug‐induced hepatitis.