Analysis of autoantibodies and serum immunological characteristics of drug-induced liver injury and autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze the differences in autoantibodies and serum immunological characteristics between patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI)and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)so as to promote effective diagnosis, therapy, and differentiation. Methods Patients with DILI(Group A)and AIH(Group B)admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to September 2022 were selected. The diagnosis of DILI and AIH met the standard. Clinical data of DILI and AIH were collected for comparison. Results A total of 85 patients were enrolled, including 52 patients with DILI(29 males, 23 females; mean age 51.7 years)and 33 patients with AIH(8 males. 25 females, mean age 49.1 years). There was a significant difference in sex between the two groups (P<0.05). In terms of clinical symptoms, the difference was statistically significant between the two groups regarding fatigue(75.0% vs. 24.4%, P<0.05). Regarding examination indexes, ALT, AST, Alb, PT, APTT, IgA, and IgG differed significantly between the two groups(all P<0.05. Compared with DILI, the ANA titer of AIH patients ≥ 1∶3200 was significantly higher (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in AMA antibody, anti-gp210 and anti-SP100 between the two groups(P>0.05). Compared with DILI, the cases of intrahepatic cholestasis in AIH patients decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the cases of interfacial hepatitis, rose petal formation and bile duct injury increased significantly(P<0.05). Conclusion There are some differences in autoantibodies and immune indexes between patients with DILI and AIH. Moreover, AIH is characterized by interfacial hepatitis, rose petal formation and bile duct injury, while intrahepatic cholestasis is typical of DILI.

Key words: Drug-induced liver injury, Autoimmune hepatitis, Autoantibodies, Interfacial hepatitis, Intrahepatic cholestasis

CHEN Ke, GE Li-li. Analysis of autoantibodies and serum immunological characteristics of drug-induced liver injury and autoimmune hepatitis[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2023, 28(3): 340-342.

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