Anti LKM-1 and cryoglobulinemia in autoimmune and virus C associated chronic hepatitis

Background: Anti liver kidney microsome antibodies (LKM-1) have been recent ly, incorporated to the study and classification of chronic autoimmune hepa titis (HC-A1), The presence of anti LKM-1 antibodies and essential cryoglob ulinemia is frequent in virus C associated chronic hepatitis (HC-VC). Aim: To study the frequency of anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulin levels in patients with HC-AI, HC-VC and cryptogenic cirrhosts. Patients and methods: Forty two patients were studied. Nineteen adult women with classic HC-AI w ith positive antinuclear or anti smooth muscle antibodies. Five patients of less than 20 years old with HC-AI and negative antinuclear and anti smooth muscle antibodies. Tell adult women with crytogenic cirrhosis, 4 women and 4 men with HC-VC. Serum samples were obtained at 37 degrees C. Antinuclear , anti smooth muscle and anti LKM-1 antibodies were measured by indirect im munofluorescence using Hep-2 cells and rat tissue slices as substrates. Cry oglobulins were determined by the traditional method and cryocrit. Results: All studied patients were anti LKM-1 negative. All had significant circula ting cryoglobulin levels. Conclusions: In this sample of patients with HC-A I or HC-VC, anti LKM-1 antibodies were not detected brit all had cryoglobul inemia.