Hausdorf G, Roggenbuck D, Feist E, Büttner T, Jungblut PR, Conrad K, Berg C, Klein R. Autoantibodies to asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) measured by a novel ELISA--revival of a disease-activity marker in autoimmune hepatitis.
Clin Chim Acta 2009;
408:19-24. [PMID:
19576873 DOI:
10.1016/j.cca.2009.06.035]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2009] [Revised: 06/24/2009] [Accepted: 06/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The liver-specific ASGPR is an autoantigen in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients. Anti-ASGPR antibody correlates with disease activity, however, only in-house assays have been reported so far.
METHODS
Rabbit ASGPR was purified by affinity chromatography on galactose-Sepharose and used for standardised detection of anti-ASGPR by ELISA. Anti-ASGPR IgG was measured in sera from 45 patients with AIH, PBC (n=43), alcoholic liver disease (n=13), HBV infection (n=35), HCV infection (n=53), and 118 blood donors. Anti-ASGPR was correlated with biochemical parameters of disease activity in 22 AIH patients with consecutive samples.
RESULTS
Twenty-one of 30 untreated (70%) and five of 15 treated AIH patients (30%) showed elevated anti-ASGPR at first presentation. Only one blood donor demonstrated anti-ASGPR. ALD and PBC patients were all negative. ROC curve analysis of AIH and disease-control patients revealed a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 99.4%. Three (8.6%) of 35 HBV and 7 (13.2%) of 53 HCV patients demonstrated elevated anti-ASGPR. In AIH patients, anti-ASPGR correlated with liver-transaminases levels. In 22 follow-up patients, elevation of anti-ASPGR preceded liver-transaminases increase.
CONCLUSIONS
The novel anti-ASGPR ELISA is a readily available and specific diagnostic tool for anti-ASGPR detection in AIH. Quantification of anti-ASGPR is helpful in monitoring disease activity.
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