Autoimmune hepatitis and anti-DNA antibodies.

Autoimmune hepatitis is defined as inflammation and necrosis of the liver w ith autoantibodies and hypergammaglobulinemia responding to immunosuppressi ve therapy: The main difference among the three types of autoimmune hepatit is lies in the nature of the autoantibodies, A case is reported in which an ti-DNA antibodies were found. The few available studies in which anti-DNA a ntibodies were looked for produced conflicting results regarding the freque ncy and significance of these antibodies. The likelihood of finding anti-DN A antibodies varies with the type of assay used and the history of corticos teroid therapy. Persistence of anti-DNA antibodies after treatment of the a utoimmune hepatitis may be of adverse prognostic significance. Anti-DNA ant ibodies in autoimmune hepatitis may also be an early marker for lupus.