Chronic liver disease and autoantibodies to the Tamm-Horsfall protein

Serum levels of immunoglobulin class specific antibodies to Tamm-Horsfall protein (TH) were studied in 25 patients with various liver diseases. Increased levels of TH-IgA antibodies were common in different types of liver disease, whereas high TH-IgM concentrations were observed only in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis. The occurrence of high concentrations of TH antibodies was not related to the occurrence of renal tubular acidosis detected by an acidification test, but the elevation of TH-IgA was significantly correlated to high levels of total serum IgA. An indirect immunofluorescence method did not demonstrate any cross-reaction between TH and liver tissue.