[Prevalence and significance of non-specific anti-organelle antibodies of the liver in chronic viral hepatitis C].

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical signification of non organ specific autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

We studied retrospectively 158 consecutive patients (97 with chronic hepatitis C, 24 with chronic hepatitis B, 67 with alcoholic cirrhosis) and 100 blood-donors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anti-nuclear and anti-smooth muscle antibodies was lower in blood donors than in patients (P < 0.001), but was comparable among the 3 groups of patients. The anti-liver-kidney microsome type 1 antibodies were detected only in patients with chronic hepatitis C (6%). The serum gammaglobulin level was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis C and anti-nuclear antibody titers > or = 1/50. The anti-smooth muscle antibodies detected in patients with hepatitis C had no anti-actin specificity. The response to interferon was not related to the detection of non organ specific autoantibodies before treatment.

CONCLUSION

Anti-nuclear or anti-smooth muscle antibodies are not characteristic of hepatitis C virus infection.