title: Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The detection of diagnostic autoantibodies such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA), anti-liver/kidney microsomal type 1 (anti-LKM1), anti-liver cytosol type 1 (anti-LC1) and anti-soluble liver antigen (anti-SLA) is historically associated with the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When autoimmune hepatitis is suspected, the detection of one or any combination of diagnostic autoantibodies, by indirect immunofluorescence or immuno-enzymatic techniques with recombinant antigens, is a pivotal step to reach a diagnostic score of probable or definite autoimmune hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic autoantibodies (ANA, SMA, anti-LKM1, anti-LC1, anti-SLA) are a cornerstone in the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. Other ancillary autoantibodies, associated with peculiar clinical correlations, appear to be assay-dependent and institution-specific, and validation studies are needed.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deleonardi
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lalanne
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tovoli
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Libra
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muratori
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies