ANTIBODIES AGAINST HUMAN LIVER-SPECIFIC PROTEIN (LSP) IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC VIRAL-HEPATITIS TYPE-A, TYPE-B AND TYPE-NON-A, NON-B

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (2) , 382-390
Abstract
Sera from 42 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH), 97 patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD) and 89 controls were tested by radioimmunoprecipitation for the presence of antibodies against human liver-specific protein (LSP). Anti-LSP were found in all but 1 patient with AVH type A (93%) and in a smaller percentage of AVH type B (55%). In non-A, non-B cases, anti-LSP were found in low percentages as follows: 27% in acute cases, 10% in chronic cases. In CALD, a significant difference was found between HBsAg[hepatitis B surface antigen]-positive CAH [chronic active hepatitis] and autoimmune CAH, both in anti-LSP prevalence (21%, 67%; P < 0.005) and in anti-LSP titer (1:154 .+-. 170, 1:316 .+-. 186; P < 0.005). In HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc[hepatitis B core antigen]-positive CAH, 3 of 15 patients were anti-LSP positive. Anti-LSP were found only in 3 of 57 patients with various non-hepatic diseases with autoimmune features. None of the 12 healthy HBsAg carriers was positive. Hence, there is evidence for a considerable heterogeneity in anti-LSP response in acute and in chronic inflammatory HBsAg-negative liver diseases. Anti-LSP antibodies probably do not play a prominent role in the process of transition to chronicity of acute viral hepatitis, particularly in non-A, non-B cases; these antibodies may be important in the mechanism of ongoing liver cell injury in patients with autoimmune CAH and can represent a useful diagnostic marker of this type of hepatitis.