Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.
BACKGROUND
Besides the autoantibodies included in the diagnostic criteria of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, many other autoantibodies have been described in this condition. Recently, antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide have been validated as specific diagnostic and prognostic markers of rheumatoid arthritis.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether these antibodies are part of the autoantibody repertoire of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis and correlate with rheumatological manifestations.


METHODS
Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide were tested by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The antibodies were found in 12 of 133 (9%) type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, two of 49 (4%) with primary biliary cirrhosis, one of 80 (1%) with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease and 53 of 89 (60%) with rheumatoid arthritis serum samples. High titres were found only in rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. No clinical (in particular rheumatological manifestations), biochemical or immunoserological differences were detectable between antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide positive and negative type 1 autoimmune hepatitis sera, with the exception of rheumatoid factor, always negative in the positive ones.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide can be detected in a subgroup of patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. They might be part of the wide range of autoantibody production characteristic of this condition and/or, less probably, be predictive of future rheumatoid arthritis development.
Fusconi
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy. mfusconi@aosp.bo.it
Vannini
A
A
Dall'Aglio
A C
AC
Pappas
G
G
Cassani
F
F
Ballardini
G
G
Frisoni
M
M
Grassi
A
A
Bianchi
F B
FB
Zauli
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide