engleski

Autoantibodies to Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in children with autoimmune hepatitis

Background: Autoantibodies to liver-specific asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) has been suggested as a relevant serologic marker of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) showing a correlation with disease activity. Recently, a novel ELISA anti-ASGPR assay (Generic Assays GmbH, Germany) has been shown to detect readily anti-ASGPR with higher specificity in comparison to assays available so far. Aim: To evaluate the significance of anti-ASGPR in children with autoimmune hepatitis. Patients and methods: Anti-ASGPR IgG was measured by novel ELISA in sera of 55 children (27 girls, 28 boys, mean age 14.4 ± 3.5 years). Eleven children were diagnosed with AIH and control group included celiac disease (CD) (N=18), fatty liver (N=17), other (N=9). Anti-ASGPR was correlated with biochemical parameters of disease activity. One newly diagnosed AIH patient was followed over treatment period of 2 years. Results: Anti-ASGPR were positive in 2/11 AIH patients and in 3/44 controls, all three with CD. One anti-ASGPR positive AIH patient was a boy with newly discovered, non-treated highly active disease and the other had poorly controlled AIH type II. All but one of other AIH patients had a well controlled disease. Anti-ASGPR positive CD patients had a history of recent EBV infection in one, overlap with other autoimmune diseases in second and recent gluten provocation diet in the third case. In newly discovered AIH patient anti- ASGPR status correlated with disease activity during 2 years follow up. Conclusion: Our results confirmed the association of anti-ASGPR with more severe AIH and possible role in monitoring disease activity.

autoimmune hepatitis, children, autoantibodies, ASPGR

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