Abstract
Anti-double stranded DNA antibody (A-dsDNA) and anti-single stranded DNA antibody (A-ssDNA) were measured by ELISA method and by Crithidia immuno-fluorescence method in various chronic liver diseases (CLD). A-dsDNA were detected only in the two categories of CLD, that is autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Positive percentage and titer of A-dsDNA were predominantly high in AIH. Among patients with AIH, A-dsDNA positive cases were younger, and had a higher percentage in LE and RA tests and higher values in serum γ-globulin and IgG than negative cases. A-ssDNA were positive not only in AIH and PBC but also in other categories of CLD. Histologically, A-dsDNA positive patients with AIH showed more rapid progression to liver cirrhosis than did negative cases, and clinically tended to take the course of acute exacerbation, status such as subacute hepatitis. Of the immunoglobulin classes, only IgG of A-dsDNA was positive in such cases, and IgG class of A-dsDNA was supposed to have a close association with acute exacerbation of AIH. In conclusion, A-dsDNA is highly specific for AIH and has close association with the histological progression and clinical exacerbation in AIH.
