[Case of primary biliary cirrhosis patient with anti-p97/VCP antibodies presenting a mild clinical course].

In this study, we present a case of mild PBC that had anti-p97/VCP. A 53-year-old woman had been suspected of having chronic liver disease since 1983. In 1998, she visited the clinic, complaining of struma and pruritus. Laboratory findings on the first visit showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 454 IU/l(110-360), gammaGTP 250IU/l(-45) and IgM 671mg/dl(35-220). A screening of anti-mitochondrial antibody test was positive at a 1:80 dilution. A liver biopsy specimen revealed PBC at Scheuer stage 1. Following a treatment of ursodeoxycolic acid (UDCA) 300mg/day for 6 months, AMA and IgM were reduced to 1:20 and 220mg/dl, respectively. However, she was found to have low titer of anti-p97/VCP antibodies, determined by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled recombinant protein produced by in vitro translation and transcription of the full length p97 cDNA. She has continued to be clinically stable following administration of UDCA 300mg. A PBC patient with anti-p97/VCP antibody showed a milder clinical course, suggesting some beneficial role of this antibody.