Chronic active hepatitis associated with anti-liver-kidney microsome antibody type 1

A 3 years old girl presented with clinical feature of an acute hepatitis-like illness, with jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, high alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) and high gamma-globulin values. We were able to demonstrate high titre of anti-liver-kidney microsome antibodies type 1 (LKMA1) in the serum of this patient using immunofluorescence, ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay) and Western blot (WB) analysis. This observation together with the liver morphology and after excluding other possible causes of hepatitis established the diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis associated with anti-LKM1 antibody. Immunosuppressive therapy was therefore started immediately.