title: [Syndrome of overlap: Chronic hepatitis C/autoimmune hepatitis: fact or fancy?].
abstract: Non-organ specific autoantibodies are common in patients with chronic hepatitis C, making differential diagnosis difficult between viral, autoimmune forms and hepatitis C/autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome. The lack of additional criteria of autoimmunity in most patients leads to the definition of a "false" hepatitis C-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome, while the "true" overlap syndrome occurs in a very few number of subjects. In patients with "false" overlap syndrome the first choice therapy is based on the administration of interferon plus ribavirin. On the contrary, first-line therapy with corticosteroids should be restricted to the "true" hepatitis overlap syndrome with the new therapeutic option of interferon/corticosteroid association.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonaci
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simone
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Vella
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons