Non-organ Specific Autoantibodies (ANA & SMA) in Type 1-Autoimmune Hepatitis

Abstract

Background: Autoantibodies against nuclear antigen and smooth muscle characterize type 1-autoimmune hepatitis. Antinuclear antibodies directed against functional and structural component of the cell while smooth muscle antibodies exhibit reactivates against actin and Non-actin components. Objective: Aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical relevance of antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies in autoimmune hepatitis -1. Methods: The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with chronic active hepatitis of unknown cause, attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in a period from November 2006 through July 2007. : Anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-smooth muscle antibodies were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay and Indirect Immunofluorescence technique.Results: Antinuclear and Sooth muscle antibodies were detected in the sera of 49 patients (67.0%) with autoimmune hepatitis, but never in the sera of healthy group just in one patients (0.5%) in comparison to Auto immune hepatitis patients with the frequency (30.6%) was highest among the age group of 30-39 years. Conclusion: Antinuclear Antibodies and Smooth muscle antibodies are present in identified patients with autoimmune hepatiti-1, smooth muscle antibodies are more prevalent than antinuclear antibodies in this type and patients with this type have a bimodal age distribution. Key words: Antinuclear antibodies, anti-smooth muscle antibodies, autoimmune hepatitis type-1, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay, Indirect Immunofluorescence Technique