Incidental antinuclear autoantibody to sp100 and gp210 in subjects with normal liver function tests

Abstract

Aim Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) specific antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are found in about 50% of patients with PBC. They are largely directed to sp100 and gp210 and are associated with ANA immunofluorescence (IIF) staining patterns of multiple nuclear dots (MND) and nuclear pore complex (NPC) respectively. They have not previously been reported in subjects with normal liver function tests (LFTs). We review the incidental incidence of these autoantibodies in our test population and their association with normal and cholestatic LFTs. Method Retrospective analysis of lineblots performed based on ANA IIF pattern of MND and NPC. LFTs were recorded from date of ANA testing and at one and two years of follow up. Results 187 lineblots were positive for autoantibody to sp100 and/or gp210 detected on the basis of ANA pattern to MND and NPC. Twenty-nine patients with anti-gp210 antibodies and 51 patients with anti-sp100 antibodies detected incidentally on the basis of ANA pattern remained biochemically and symptomatically stable during a follow up period of one year. Discussion The population identified here could serve as a basis for long term studies, contributing to our knowledge as the predictive value of these specificities detected incidentally is currently unknown.