Autoantibodies and Australia antigen in acute and chronic liver

Serum antinuclear (ANA), mitochondrial (AMA) and smooth muscle (SMA) antibody have been measured in 130 patients with Australia antigen a antibody, and acute and chronic hepatitis. In patients with acute hepatitis, persistent hepatitis, postnecrotic cirrhosis these indices failed to show any correlation. In the group of patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis the incidence of Au was 70%, ANA 10%, AMA 3%, SMA 33%; Au negative patients had higher incidence of autoantibodies, mainly SMA (45%) and much higher titers of SMA than Au positive patients in whom SMA was 29%. No patient with primary biliary cirrhosis was Australia positive; the incidence of AMA was 90%.