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.
Omagari
K
K
The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, 852-8501, Nagasaki, Japan
Matsuo
I
I
Ohba
K
K
Masuda
J -i.
J
Hazama
H
H
Sakimura
K
K
Kinoshita
H
H
Tsurutani
H
H
Isomoto
H
H
Murase
K
K
Kohno
S
S