Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Serum autoantibodies: a road map for the clinical hepatologist.

Meda F, Zuin M, Invernizzi P, Vergani D, Selmi C

Division of Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, San Paolo Hospital School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

The widespread use of serum autoantibodies in the practice of clinical hepatology has led to novel challenges in the interpretation of results obtained with routine techniques, such as indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) or with recombinant antigens. In fact, the laboratory methods are often overlooked factors in the interpretation of data by the bedside clinician despite being critical in the interpretation of data. Importantly, the sensitivity and specificity of these serum hallmarks are not defined in all cases. Taken altogether, these observations point towards the need for a systematic discussion of autoimmune serology in the clinical setting of everyday practice. The target of this review article is therefore, to illustrate the current knowledge and available experimental evidence to guide the diagnostic and prognostic decision making in autoimmune and viral chronic liver diseases.

Published 7 January 2008 in Autoimmunity, 41(1): 27-34.
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