PREVALENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF NON ORGAN- SPECIFIC AUTOANTIBODIES 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 ch ronic hepatitis C. Methods. - We studied retrospectively 158 consecuti ve patients (97 with chronic hepatitis C, 24 with chronic hepatitis B, 67 with alcoholic cirrhosis) and 100 blood-donors. Results. - The pre valence of anti-nuclear and anti-smooth muscle antibodies was lower in blood donors than in patients (P < 0.001), but was comparable among t he 3 groups of patients. The anti-liver-kidney microsome type 1 antibo dies were detected only in patients with chronic hepatitis C (6 %). Th e serum gammaglobulin level was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis C and anti-nuclear antibody titers greater than or equal to 1/50. The anti-smooth muscle antibodies detected in patients with hepa titis C had no anti-actin specificity. The response to interferon was not related to the detection of non organ specific autoantibodies befo re treatment. Conclusion. - Anti-nuclear or anti-smooth muscle antibod ies are not characteristic of hepatitis C virus infection.