Hepatitis C - Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)

5/14/2003

Question:  What is the incidence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in Hepatitis C infection?

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Unique Identifier:12206004 Medline Identifier 22193268 Record Owner NLM

Authors: Liu WE. Tan DM. Zhang Z.

Institution: Department of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008.

Title: A study of the autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection. [Chinese]

Source: Bulletin of Hunan Medical University. 25(4):367-70, 2000 Aug 28.

Abstract: To explore the autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. Anti-GOR, antinuclear antibodies(ANA), thyroglobulin antibody(TGA), thyroid microsome antibody(TMA), serum levels of soluble Fas(sFas), and peripheral blood lymphocyte(PBMC) subsets and their apoptosis were measured in chronic HCV infection by using immunity assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that the positive rates of anti-GOR, ANA and TMA/TGA were significantly higher in chronic HCV-infected patients than those in normal controls(P < 0.01, respectively). In comparison with chronic HBV infected patients, anti-GOR and ANA were also significantly increased in chronic HCV infected patients(P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). The serum levels of sFas were significantly higher in chronic HCV infection than those in healthy donors(P < 0.01). The apoptosis percentage of PBMCs and CD3+ cell was all increased in chronic HCV infection (vs normal controls P < 0.05). However, the apoptosis percentages of CD4+ T and CD19+ B cells in PBMCs were significantly decreased in patients with anti-GOR positive as compared with anti-GOR negative(P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The results indicate that autoimmune reactions and the imbalance of lymphocyte apoptosis exist during chronic HCV infection. Decreasing of the apoptosis of CD4+ T and CD19+ B lymphocytes may be the important reasons for the mechanism of autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection. Increased serum levels of sFas may be responsible for the decrease of the apoptosis in a part of lymphocytes in chronic HCV infection. CAS Registry/EC Number 0 (Antibodies, Antinuclear). 0 (Antigens). 0 (Antigens, CD95). 0 (Autoantibodies). 0 (GOR protein). 9010-34-8 (Thyroglobulin).

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Unique Identifier:11606858 Medline Identifier 21518813 Record Owner NLM

Authors: Peng YC. Hsieh SC. Yang DY. Tung CF. Hu WH. Huang WN. Chen GH.

Institution: Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.

Title: Expression and clinical significance of antinuclear antibody in hepatitis C virus infection.

Source: Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 33(5):402-6, 2001 Nov-Dec.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prevalence of antinuclear antibody (ANA) has been documented in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We attempted to determine the titer and to characterize the patterns and clinical significance of ANA in HCV infection. STUDY: Forty-eight consecutive patients with positive anti-HCV antibody and positive HCV RNA were included in this study. Sera from patients were tested for ANA and anti-smooth muscle antibody by indirect immunofluorescence. Serum aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-fetoprotein, and cryoglobulin levels also were determined. RESULTS: Eleven (23%) of 48 HCV-infected patients were positive for ANA. Antinuclear antibody revealed speckled pattern in 10 (91%) of the 11 ANA-positive HCV-infected patients. Twenty (54%) of 37 ANA-negative HCV-infected patients had detectable pattern with equivocal titer (titer <1.5). The ANA pattern was speckled in all 20 patients. Hepatitis C virus-infected patients with positive ANA were older than the HCV-infected patients with negative ANA (62.90 +/- 11.05 years vs. 56.46 +/- 14.94 years, respectively; p < 0.1). Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (39.36 +/- 14.98 IU/L vs. 30.70 +/- 23.15 IU/L, p < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase (189.00 +/- 75.63 IU/L vs. 122.41 +/- 40.88 IU/L, p < 0.01), and alpha-fetoprotein (47.72 +/- 80.47 pg/dL vs. 7.00 +/- 8.28 pg/dL, p < 0.01) were higher in ANA-positive HCV-infected patients than in ANA-negative HCV-infected patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in gender, alanine aminotransferase, anti-smooth muscle antibody, or cryoglobulin between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Antinuclear antibody was present in 11 (23%) of 48 patients with HCV infection in our study. Speckled pattern is the major expression pattern of ANA in HCV infection. Antinuclear antibody-positive HCV-infected patients have significantly higher serum aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alpha-fetoprotein levels than ANA-negative HCV-infected patients. CAS Registry/EC Number 0 (Antibodies, Antinuclear). 0 (Cryoglobulins). 0 (Hepatitis C Antibodies). 0 (alpha-Fetoproteins). EC 2-6-1-1 (Aspartate Aminotransferases). EC 3-1-3-1 (Alkaline Phosphatase).

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Unique Identifier:7875388 Medline Identifier 95180507 Record Owner NLM

Authors: Richardet JP. Lons T. Johanet C. Abourached A. Raffoux C. Grimbert S. Sibony M. Andre C. Trinchet JC. Homberg JC. et al.

Institution: Service d'Hepato-Gastroenterologie, Hopital Jean-Verdier, Bondy.

Title: [Prevalence and characteristics of anti-tissue antibodies in chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus]. [French]

Original Title: Prevalence et caracteristiques des anticorps anti-tissus au cours des hepatites chroniques dues au virus de l'hepatite C.

Source: Gastroenterologie Clinique et Biologique. 18(10):819-23, 1994.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES--The prevalence and significance of antiorganelle antibodies in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C is a subject of controversy. We studied prospectively these characteristics in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS AND RESULTS--Among 156 patients (age: 55 +/- 14 years; 83 females), 30 (19%) had significant titers of antiorganelle antibodies: anti-nuclear antibodies in 18, anti-smooth muscle antibodies in 8 (no anti-actin or anti-vimentine subtypes), anti-LKM1 in 2, type 2 anti-mitochondrial antibodies in 2 patients. Anti-organelle antibodies were not detected in 126 patients. Patients with anti-organelle antibodies were significantly older but no difference was found between the two groups for sex ratio, serum amino-transferases or gammaglobulins, histopathological liver activity or prevalence of lymphocytic sialadenitis. The presence of anti-organelle antibodies was not related to HLA phenotype, especially B8 DR3, or DR4. Response to alpha interferon, estimated by serum aminotransferase levels after six months of treatment, was the same in both groups. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that serum anti-organelle antibodies are prevalent in during chronic hepatitis C but do not indicate a distinct autoimmune mechanism. Furthermore, the typing of anti-smooth muscle antibodies might help distinguish chronic hepatitis C from type 1 autoimmune chronic hepatitis. CAS Registry/EC Number 0 (Antibodies, Antinuclear). 0 (Autoantibodies). 0 (anti-liver kidney microsome antibody).