Impact of parietal cell autoantibodies and non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the treatment outcome of patients with hepatitis C virus infection: A pilot study

Table 1 Characteristics of HCV patients studied.

	Non-responders (n = 22)	Relapsers (n = 16)	Sustained responders (n = 19)
Sex (M/F)	15/7	10/6	13/6
Age (Mean/range)	48±15	50±10	37±13
Disease duration (yr)	2.4±2.1	2.9±3	2.5±2.4
Source of HCV Infection
Transfusion before 1990	8	4	4
Iv drug abuse	3	3	6
Multiple hospitalizations	3	0	0
Multiple sexual partners	0	1	2
Unknown	8	8	7
Genotype
1a/1b	11	8	8
2a/c	2	2	0
3a	4	4	7
4	4	1	2
Undefined	1	1	2
Viral load
>2.106 copies/mL	9	10	10
≤2.106 copies/mL	13	6	9
Histologic data (Yes/No)	14/8	11/5	10/9
Minimal/mild inflammation	12	6	9
Moderate/severe inflammation	2	5	1
None/mild/moderate fibrosis	10	5	10
Severe fibrosis or cirrhosis	4	6	0
HBV and/or HIV co-infection	0	0	0

Table 2 Prevalence (%) and mean titre of PCA and non-organ specific autoantibodies in HCV patients at three time-points.

	Before treatment (n = 57)		End of treatment (n = 57)		End of follow up (n = 57)		P value
	Pos (%)	Mean titre	Pos (%)	Mean titre	Pos (%)	Mean titre
ANA	54.4	1/188	70.2	1/194	71.9	1/171	NS
SMA	89.5	1/127	89.5	1/135	84.2	1/118	NS
Undefined	12.3	1/108	19.31	1/76	14	1/248	NS
cytoplasmic staining1
AMA	0		0		0
Anti-LKM	5.3	1/133	7	1/100	5.3	1/67	NS
PCA	15.8	1/76	17.5	1/108	15.8	1/231	NS
Anti-LC	1.8	1/40	3.5	1/60	0		NS
ANCA	80.7	1/31	80.7	1/31	82.5	1/31	NS
CANCA	78.9	1/28	77.2	1/30	77.2	1/28	NS
PANCA	3.5	1/90	5.3	1/53	8.8	1/64	NS
Anti-PR-3	0		0		0
Anti-MPO	0		0		0
Anti-dsDNA	22.8	129 BI	24.6	135 BI	21.1	134 BI	NS
Anti-CL	19.3	148 BI	29.8	138 BI	17.5	129 BI	NS

Abbreviations are same as in the text. pANCA = ANCA with perinuclear pattern, NS = not statistically significant, n = the number of individuals studied in each group. P values were calculated by one-way analysis of variance for the mean titres and by total χ² for autoantibodies positivity.

¹Means an AMA-like pattern by indirect immunofluorescense on HEp-2 cells, which did not give an AMA pattern on frozen liver, renal and stomach sections and which did not react in specific ELISA for AMA and immunoblots on human liver.

Table 3 Alterations of anti-LKM reactivity in association with the response to therapy in the four anti-HCV positive/anti-LKM-positive patients.

Gender	Genotype	Anti-LKM titre			Response
		1st	2nd	3rd	End of treatment	End of follow-up
M	1b	1/320	1/40	0	Responder	Sustained responder
F	1b	1/40	1/160	1/80	Responder	Relapser
F	2a/c	1/40	1/40	1/40	Non-responder	Non-responder
M	4	0	1/160	1/80	Non-responder	Non-responder

Abbreviations are same as in the text. M = male, F = female, 1st, 2nd and 3rd refers to the sample obtained at the entry, at the end of treatment and at the end of follow-up, respectively.

Table 4 Impact of ANA detection on sustained biochemical response of the patients.

	Biochemical response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
ANA entry
Pos	31	13 (41.9)	18 (58.1)	0.017
Neg	26	20 (76.9)	6 (23.1)
ANA end of follow up
Pos	41	20 (48.8)	21 (51.2)	0.037
Neg	16	13 (81.3)	3 (18.7)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group, P values were calculated by Fischer’s exact test or χ² where applicable.

Table 5 Impact of PCA and ANA on sustained biochemical and virological response of the patients.

	Combined sustained response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
PCA entry
Pos	9	0 (0)	9 (100)	0.022
Neg	48	19 (39.6)	29 (60.4)
ANA end of follow up
Pos	41	10 (24.4)	31 (75.6)	0.048
Neg	16	9 (56.3)	7 (43.7)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group, P values were calculated by Fischer’s exact test or χ² where applicable.

Table 6 Impact of PCA on sustained virological response of the patients.

	Virological response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
PCA entry
Pos	9	0 (0)	9 (100)	0.02
Neg	48	20 (41.7)	28 (58.3)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group, P values were calculated by Fischer’s exact test or χ² where applicable.

Table 7 Impact of ANA and SMA alterations at the three time-points of investigation on the sustained virological response of the patients.

	Virological response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
Alteration of ANA titres
Increase	20	8 (40)	12 (60)	0.02
Decrease	13	8 (61.5)	5 (38.5)
Constant	24	4 (16.7)	20 (83.3)
Alteration of SMA titres
Increase	14	3 (21.4)	11 (78.6)	0.003
Decrease	18	12 (66.7)	6 (33.3)
Constant	25	5 (20)	20 (80)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group of patients. Alterations of autoantibodies titres are referred to the period from entry to end of follow-up. P values were calculated by total χ².

Table 8 Impact of ANA and SMA alterations at the three time-points of investigation on the sustained combined biochemical and virological response of the patients.

	Combined sustained response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
Alteration of ANA titers
Increase	20	7 (35)	13 (35)	0.02
Decrease	13	8 (61.5)	5 (38.5)
Constant	24	4 (16.7)	20 (83.3)
Alteration of SMA titers
Increase	14	2 (14.3)	12 (85.7)	0.001
Decrease	18	12 (66.7)	6 (33.3)
Constant	25	5 (20)	20 (80)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group of patients. Alterations of autoantibodies titres are referred to the period from entry to end of follow up. P values were calculated by total χ².

Table 9 Impact of SMA alterations at the tree time-points of investigation on the sustained biochemical response of the patients.

	Biochemical response at the end of follow up [n (%)]
	n	Yes	No	P
Alteration of SMA titers
Increase	14	7 (50)	7 (50)	0.005
Decrease	18	16 (88.8)	2 (11.2)
Constant	25	10 (40)	15 (60)

Abbreviations are same as in the text. n = the number of individuals in each group of patients. Alterations of autoantibodies titres are referred to the period from entry to end of follow-up. P values were calculated by total χ².