title: Anti-α actinin antibodies as new predictors of response to treatment in autoimmune hepatitis type 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We reported that combined presence of autoantibodies (Abs) against filamentous-actin (AFA) and α-actinin are specific for autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (AIH-1) diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore our data and assess whether anti-α-actinin and AFA Abs could be used as indicators of response to treatment and predictors of AIH-1 flares in a large cohort of AIH-1 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and sixty-four serial serum samples of 86 consecutive AIH-1 patients, 509 pathological and 110 normal controls were tested for the presence of anti-α-actinin and AFA Abs by an in-house IgG-specific ELISA and a standardised commercially available ELISA respectively. Patients sera were divided into baseline group (active disease before treatment initiation, n = 86) and then according to treatment response into group A-responders (n = 40 patients), group B-relapsers/incomplete responders (n = 37 patients) and group C-not-treated (n = 9 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-α-actinin and AFA levels were significantly higher at baseline. Double reactivity against α-actinin and AFA was associated with disease activity (OR 4.9; 95% CI: 2.7-9). Anti-α-actinin optical densities (ODs) before treatment decreased significantly at first remission (P < 0.05). Treatment response was associated with anti-α-actinin Abs negativity before treatment (OR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.3-8.9) and absence of double positivity for anti-α-actinin and AFA Abs before treatment (OR 3.8; 95% CI: 1.4-10.4). Responders had lower baseline levels of anti-α-actinin than relapsers and/or incomplete responders (P = 0.002). Binary logistic regression revealed lower levels of anti-α-actinin as the only independent predictors of response (P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-α-actinin Abs at baseline appear to predict treatment response and therefore they might be used for monitoring treatment outcome in AIH-1.
authors: Department of Medicine and Research Lab of Internal Medicine, Thessaly University Medical School, Larissa, Thessaly, Greece.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Zachou
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Oikonomou
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Renaudineau
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chauveau
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Gatselis
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Youinou
authors: G N
authors: GN
authors: Dalekos
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000276:immunology*; D000199:Actins / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000185:Actinin; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid