[The microsomal antibody (LKM) in liver pathology: its association with other autoantibodies]

Twenty patients found LKM antibody positive during the routine screening for autoantibodies, were studied for the association with other autoantibodies. Sixteen sera (80%) were found positive either for ANA (50%) or SMA (50%) or both (20%). Eleven patients (55%) were over 40 years old, 3 patients were HBsAg+ve, 4 have toxic and alcohol-related liver disease. These results provide evidence that the LKM antibody is not confined to young people chronic active hepatitis, but is present also in CALD of adult with various etiology. Its association with other autoantibodies (especially ANA) suggest that also LKM could be a marker of autoimmunity. The presence of ANA may be an expression of more severe stages of the disease.