title: Neonatal liver disease associated with placental transfer of anti-mitochondrial antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anti-mitochondrial antibody is the diagnostic hallmark of primary biliary cirrhosis. Its role in the aetiology of primary biliary cirrhosis is controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cases of neonatal hepatitis seropositive for anti-mitochondrial antibody are described. Anti-mitochondrial antibody Ig isotype and epitopic specificity were investigated by immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both infants anti-mitochondrial antibody was of the G class, mainly G1 and G3 subclasses, and reacted with two synthetic peptides reproducing major M2 epitopicregions: innerlipoyl domain pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)-E2(162-176) and PDC-E3 binding protein (PDC-E3BP)86-100. One infant also reacted with outer lipoyl domain PDC-E2(35-49), and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC)-E2(99-113). An identical pattern of reactivity was present in their mothers, indicating the maternal origin of the antibodies. Anti-mitochondrial antibody disappeared in the infants with the disappearance of the liver pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simultaneous disappearance of hepatitis and anti-mitochondrial antibody in the infants suggests a possible causal link between the two.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hannam
authors.forename: Dimitrios-Petrou
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bogdanos
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Munther J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Bernard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Portmann
authors.forename: Giorgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mieli-Vergani
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vergani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies