[Anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulinemia in autoimmune chronic hepatitis and virus C hepatitis].
BACKGROUND
Anti liver kidney microsome antibodies (LKM-1) have been recently incorporated to the study and classification of chronic autoimmune hepatitis (HC-A1). The presence of anti LKM-1 antibodies and essential cryoglobulinemia is frequent in virus C associated chronic hepatitis (HC-VC).


OBJECTIVE
To study the frequency of anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulin levels in patients with HC-AI, HC-VC and cryptogenic cirrhosis.


METHODS
Forty-two patients were studied. Nineteen adult women with classic HC-AI with positive antinuclear or anti smooth muscle antibodies. Five patients of less than 20 years old with HC-AI and negative antinuclear and anti smooth muscle antibodies. Ten adult women with cryptogenic cirrhosis, 4 women and 4 men with HC-VC. Serum samples were obtained at 37 degrees C. Antinuclear, anti smooth muscle and anti LKM-1 antibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence using Hep-2 cells and rat tissue slices as substrates. Cryoglobulins were determined by the traditional method and cryocrit.


RESULTS
All studied patients were anti LKM-1 negative. All had significant circulating cryoglobulin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of patients with HC-AI or HC-VC, anti LKM-1 antibodies were not detected but all had cryoglobulinemia.
Jirón
M I
MI
Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile. mijiron@hotmail.com
Ardiles
A
A
Parra
M A
MA
Orellana
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001323:Autoantibodies; C060729:anti-liver kidney microsome antibody