Evaluation of anti Epstien-Barr Virus antibodies in female patients with autoimmune hepatitis type-1

Abstract

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection is associated with broad spectrum of clinical manifestations depending on the immune status of the host, To analyze their possible role in the complication of autoimmune hepatitis, we investigated (30) female patients with autoimmune hepatitis type-1 of (10-40)years and 25 healthy female of same ages(control groups). Both groups were carried out to measure the levels of EBV-CA IgM, IgG Ab, EBV-EA IgM, IgG Ab, and EBV-NA IgM, IgG Ab using indirect immunoflourescent assay (IFAT).The prevalence of EBV-CA IgM, IgG Ab were (10%,20%) and EBV-EA IgM, IgG Ab were (10% and20%) respectively, while the prevalence of EBV-NA IgG Ab was( 3.33%) and there are no prevalence of EBV-NA IgM Ab. There were significant differences (P≤ 0.05) in percentage of EBV-CA IgG and EBV-EA IgG in patients groups compared to control groups, and no significant differences in percentage of EBV-CA IgM and EBV-EA IgM in patients group compared to control group. This indicates that infection with Epstien-Barr virus plays a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis type-1.