SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHMATOSUS ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS - 2 CASES WITH NOVEL AUTOANTIBODIES TO TRANSFER RNA-RELATED ANTIGENS

Two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with autoimmune hepati tis are reported. Both patients had a mild form of SLE without central nervous system or renal involvement and showed a rapid response to co rticosteroid therapy. Neither of them had antibodies to mitochondria, smooth muscle, and liver/kidney microsome-1 related to autoimmune hepa titis, Instead, novel autoantibodies which react with transfer RNA-rel ated antigen were detected. These autoantibodies could be a useful mar ker for classification of SLE associated with autoimmune hepatitis.