[Circulating autoantibodies and immune complexes in and after acute non-A/non-B hepatitis]

Serum samples from 35 female patients with and after acute non-A/non-B-hepatitis following application of human immunoglobulin "Anti-D (Rh0)" were tested for circulating antibodies against nuclei, smooth muscle, vascular endothelium connective tissue, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmatic reticulum, stomach parietal cells, and other by indirect immunofluorescence and for circulating immune complexes by polyethylene glycol method. Tests were performed twice in the first weeks of illness and about 2 years after infection. 5 patients (14%) had increased levels of immune complexes, detected only in the early stage of illness. The most important early antibodies were low titre IgG-antibodies against smooth muscle antigens (68%), connective tissue (27%) and IgM-rat heart antinuclear factors (31%). 2 patients with recidival and chronic hepatitis had IgG-antimitochondrial antibodies 2 years after infection (titre I : 40 and I : 160). The results suggest, that special antibodies could be involved in the course of special form of non-A/non-B hepatitis.