Abstract
Peritoneoscopic findings were studied in patients with auto-antibody-positive chronic hepatitis C. The studied population comprised 133 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 55 of chronic hepatitis B and 19 of autoimmune hepatitis. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was studied by means of indirect fluorescent antibody method (IF) and anti-liver/kidney microsome (LKM) -1 antibody was studied by means of IF method and double immunodif-fusion method. ANA was positive in 15% of Type-C patients and in 20% of Type-B patients. No significant difference in positive ratio of ANA was observed between Type-B and Type-C. In comparison to Type-B counterparts, Type-C subjecs had a higher incidence of gutter- or trench-shaped depressions or small depressions on liver surface. Reddish markings in patients with chronic hepatitis C were characterized by multilobular shape, which was typically localized. No significant differrence in peritoneoscopic findigs was observed between ANA-positive and negative cases. Nevertheless, steroid therapy was effective in patients who had high ANA titers and high γ-globulin levels. Anti-LKM-1 antibody positive patients failed to show gutter- or trench-shaped depressions or large elevated lesions of which findings were characteristic of AIH.
