title: [Anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulinemia in autoimmune chronic hepatitis and virus C hepatitis].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile. mijiron@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Jirón
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardiles
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orellana
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C060729:anti-liver kidney microsome antibody