Synchronized disappearance of serum HCV-RNA, anti-U1 RNP, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-Scl-70 in a patient with chronic hepatitis.
The authors report a rare case of chronic hepatitis in whom normalization of serum aminotransferases was associated with disappearance of serum hepatitic C virus (HCV)-ribonucleic acid (RNA), anti-U1 RNP, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-Scl-70 antibodies without treatment of interferon or corticosteroids. A 27-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, with positive anti-nuclear antibody, anti-U1 RNP, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-Scl-70 antibodies. Histopathologic examination of a liver biopsy specimen showed a periportal interface hepatitis with a predominantly lymphoplasmacytic necroinflammatory infiltrate and lobular hepatitis. After two-year treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), serum aminotransferases normalized and serum HCV-RNA, anti-U1 RNP, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-Scl-70 antibodies disappeared. It was unclear whether disappearance of HCV-RNA was spontaneous, due to some immunomodulating effects of UDCA, or other unknown mechanism, but host immune response may be associated with HCV elimination.
The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, 852-8501, Nagasaki, Japan
K
K
Omagari
I
I
Matsuo
K
K
Ohba
J -i.
J
Masuda
H
H
Hazama
K
K
Sakimura
H
H
Kinoshita
H
H
Tsurutani
H
H
Isomoto
K
K
Murase
S
S
Kohno