The frequency of non-organ-specific autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C and its relation with disease severity and response to therapy

Increased levels of non-organ-specific autoantibodies are frequently seen in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C (CHC); however, the etiology and its effects on the course of the disease and response to therapy are largely undetermined. Particularly, it seems of utmost importance to define whether this increase is solely an insignificant coincidence or a major finding which have an impact on the course of the disease. Fifty-two patients with CHC (case group) and 52 aged- and sex-matched IBS patients (controls) were enrolled. The sera of all subjects were checked for non-organ-specific autoantibodies, including anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA), and anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibody (ALKM). All cases underwent a liver biopsy and treated with a 12-month course of combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin. The mean age of cases and controls was 32.8±12.7 and 31.6±14.1 years, respectively. The overall frequency of non-organ-specific antibodies was significantly higher in anti-HCV positive patients in comparison with controls (36.5% vs 7.7%, p