Abstract
Objective:To examine the occurrence frequency of auto-antibodies and autoimmune diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.Methods:A total of 67 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and 77 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection based on HBs Ag, Anti HCV, HBe Ag, Anti HBe Ag, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, liver ultrasound, and liver biopsy results as well as 48 healthy individuals were included in this study. ANA, anti dsDNA, anti LKM, Anti-SMA, AMA, C-ANCA, P-ANCA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Scl-70, anti Jo-1, anti-U1snRNP, anti-centromere, anti-Jo-1, anti tpo, and anti tg were studied in all individuals in each study group.Results:ANA positivity was detected in 8 (12%), 15 (19%) and 2 (4%) individuals in HBV, HCV and control groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was significant (P=0.04). Similarly, anti Tg was positive in one subject in HBV group, in 6 subjects (7%) in HCV group, and in one subject among controls, the difference being significant (P=0.04). There were no significant differences between the study groups in the frequency of other auto-antibodies.Conclusion:Similar to studies involving patients who received interferon and/or antiviral agents, an increased frequency of auto-antibodies was also detected in our patient group consisting of interferon and anti-viral naive subjects. The increase in the frequency of auto-antibodies reached statistical significance among individuals with HCV infection. Thus, pre-treatment assessment of auto-antibodies in newly diagnosed cases of chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection may provide beneficial information on the future occurrence of auto-immune responses in these patients.
Highlights
Auto-antibodies are produced against the antigens of an organism such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and multi molecular complexes
Tested auto-antibodies include anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies directed against DNA, antibodies directed against proteins that bind to nucleic acids (ENA), those directed against phospholipids, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)
2 patients had ASMA, one patient had anti-SS-A, one patient had antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA), and one patient had anti-LKM positivity
Summary
Auto-antibodies are produced against the antigens of an organism such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and multi molecular complexes. They have diagnostic and pathogenetic relevance, and provide prognostic information. Tested auto-antibodies include anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies directed against DNA, antibodies directed against proteins that bind to nucleic acids (ENA), those directed against phospholipids, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Anti-bodies specific to certain tissues or organs may be produced by the immune system (e.g. those against hepatic, renal, gastric, intestinal, thyroid, pancreatic, muscular, testicular, dermatological, or neurological tissues). Bacterial or parasitic infections may result in the development of autoimmune conditions due to their ability to induce robust inflammatory responses in a variety of organ systems. An infectious agent may induce a variety of different auto-immune diseases or different agents may play a role in the pathogenesis of a single auto-immune condition.[1,2]
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