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. 2012 Jan;6(1):379-85.
doi: 10.1007/s12072-011-9277-8. Epub 2011 May 10.

Clinical significance of serum autoantibodies in patients with NAFLD: results from the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis clinical research network

Raj Vuppalanchi  1 , Robert J Gould  2 , Laura A Wilson  3 , Aynur Unalp-Arida  3 , Oscar W Cummings  4 , Naga Chalasani  4 , Kris V Kowdley  2 ; Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN)
Affiliations

Clinical significance of serum autoantibodies in patients with NAFLD: results from the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis clinical research network

Raj Vuppalanchi et al. Hepatol Int. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Some studies have suggested that autoantibodies might define a subcategory and phenotype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with advanced histological features. We evaluated the relationship between the presence of serum autoantibodies and liver histology in a large cohort of well-characterized patients with NAFLD.

Methods: A total of 864 NAFLD patients participating in two prospective multicentre clinical studies underwent testing for serum autoantibodies within 24 months of a liver biopsy. Liver histology was compared between the patients with and without ANA ≥ 1:160 or ASMA ≥ 1:40 or both.

Results: Autoantibodies were present in 182 patients (21%). There was no difference in age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), or history of diabetes between the two groups. Biopsies in subjects with autoantibodies were less likely to have moderate-to-severe steatosis (i.e., >33%) compared to controls (57.1 vs. 43.0%, P value = 0.0006). Lobular inflammation (46.7 vs. 47.5%), ballooning degeneration (38.5 vs. 42.5%), and advanced fibrosis (33.2 vs. 29.3%) were not different between the two groups. Histologic evidence of 'definite' NASH did not differ significantly between the two groups (55.5 vs. 58.9%). After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, race, and diabetes, the presence of autoantibodies was independently associated with lower prevalence of moderate-to-severe steatosis [odds ratio (OR), 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41-0.82; P = 0.01].

Conclusion: Autoantibodies are frequently positive in NAFLD in the absence of autoimmune hepatitis and their occurrence is not associated with more advanced histologic features.

Keywords: Autoantibodies; Liver histology; NAFLD; NASH.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have anything to disclose regarding funding from industries or conflicts of interest with respect to this manuscript.

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