title: Primary biliary cirrhosis-specific autoantibodies in first degree relatives of Greek primary biliary cirrhosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and significance of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-specific autoantibodies in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of Greek PBC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) and PBC-specific antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were determined using indirect immunofluorescence assays, dot-blot assays, and molecularly based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 101 asymptomatic for liver-related symptoms FDRs of 44 PBC patients. In order to specify our results, the same investigation was performed in 40 healthy controls and in a disease control group consisting of 40 asymptomatic for liver-related symptoms FDRs of patients with other autoimmune liver diseases namely, autoimmune hepatitis-1 or primary sclerosing cholangitis (AIH-1/PSC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMA positivity was observed in 19 (only 4 with abnormal liver function tests) FDRs of PBC patients and none of the healthy controls. The prevalence of AMA was significantly higher in FDRs of PBC patients than in AIH-1/PSC FDRs and healthy controls [18.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 12%-28.1% vs 2.5%, 95% CI: 0.1%-14.7%, P = 0.01; 18.8%, 95% CI: 12%-28.1% vs 0%, 95% CI: 0%-10.9%, P = 0.003, respectively]. PBC-specific ANA positivity was observed in only one FDR from a PSC patient. Multivariate analysis showed that having a proband with PBC independently associated with AMA positivity (odds ratio: 11.24, 95% CI: 1.27-25.34, P = 0.03) whereas among the investigated comorbidities and risk factors, a positive past history for urinary tract infections (UTI) was also independently associated with AMA detection in FDRs of PBC patients (odds ratio: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.25-12.35, P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In FDRs of Greek PBC patients, AMA prevalence is significantly increased and independently associated with past UTI. PBC-specific ANA were not detected in anyone of PBC FDRs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zografos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gatselis
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zachou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liaskos
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabeta
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Koukoulis
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dalekos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies