Study shows that anti-PTM antibodies are often present in autoimmune mediated liver disease FrontiersIn FrontMedicine LUMC_Leiden antibodies liverdiease disease antibody autoimmune
AILD represents a group of hepatocellular and cholestatic diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis , primary sclerosing cholangitis , and primary biliary cholangitis . PBC and AIH are characterized by autoantibodies and increased immunoglobulin G or IgM levels. Autoantibody testing in standard liver disease diagnosis is not disease-specific.
About the study In the present study, researchers explored anti-PTM autoantibodies in AILD. Patients visiting the hepatology and gastroenterology department at the Leiden University and Erasmus Medical Centers from 1996 to 2020 were included. Participants were stratified into AILD , non-AILD , and healthy control groups.
Findings The team included 207 patients, comprising AILD and non-AILD cohorts, with 106 and 101 subjects, respectively. On average, patients in the AILD and non-AILD cohorts were aged 48.2 and 54 years, respectively. In the AILD cohort, 66 patients had AIH, 30 had PSC, and 10 had PBC. The AILD cohort was further stratified into CLD and AIH sub-cohorts.
AILD individuals were also more likely to have multiple antibodies. Among AILD sub-cohorts, AIH patients displayed higher antibodies against AL, CarP, AGE, and MAA than non-AILD patients. They were also more often positive for anti-AGE, anti-Cit, anti-MAA, and anti-CarP antibodies than CLD patients.