Studies on anti LSP autoantibodies in acute and chronic non-B hepatitis — evidence for the lack of anti LSP in non-A, non-B (NANB) viral hepatitis

The prevalence of autoantibodies against the liver membrane antigen LSP (anti LSP) has been studied in acute and chronic non-B hepatitis. Anti LSP autoantibodies were detected in five of eight patients with type A and in two of 18 patients with type non-A, non-B (NANB) acute hepatitis. No statistically significant difference was observed between the group of anti LSP positive and anti LSP negative cases of acute non-B hepatitis concerning age, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum bilirubin levels. In hepatitis A SGPT and bilirubin levels were significantly higher as compared to type NANB acute hepatitis. Sera which were positive for anti LSP in the acute phase were negative within 2 months from onset although the two anti LSP positive patients with NANB hepatitis progressed to chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH). None of 27 patients with chronic NANB hepatitis displaying the morphology of CPH were anti LSP positive; in contrast, six of nine patients with autoimmune type chronic hepatitis were anti LSP positive, displaying the morphology of chronic active hepatitis. In conclusion, in acute hepatitis anti LSP autoantibodies are a consequence of liver cell destruction rather than being involved in the mechanism of liver cell necrosis. Anti LSP autoantibodies are unlikely to play an important role in the development of chronic NANB hepatitis.