[Expanded diagnostic possibilities for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of autoimmune hepatopathies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].

This is a report on a case of autoimmunehepatopathy with misleading virus serology: A 34-year old female patient presented with abdominal signs of hepatopathy at Graz University School of Medicine. Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) serology was strongly positive indicating virus contact. The cellular activation was elevated, additionally increased ds-DNA-titer and mitochondrial antibody titres including the subfraction M2 were increased. In view of the differential diagnosis and therapeutic consequences molecular biology was used for additional information and a PCR carried out. The latter excluded infection with HCV confirming a false positive virus serology. The patient was treated with ursodesoxycholic acid, steroids and enzymes. She improved and showed no viral exposure. We conclude, that molecular biology represents an essential tool for the diagnosis of some selected critical cases of autoimmune-diseases such as autoimmune hepatopathy with false positive virus serology, if the underlying etiopathogenesis is not clear.