Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses

Confirming whether a patient has autoimmune liver disease is challenging, given its varied presentation and complex definitions. In the continued absence of pathognomonic serum markers, diagnosis requires evaluation of laboratory investigations and, frequently, a liver biopsy – all of which need to...

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Main Authors: Marilyn V Zeman, Gideon M Hirschfield
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/431913
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author Marilyn V Zeman
Gideon M Hirschfield
author_facet Marilyn V Zeman
Gideon M Hirschfield
author_sort Marilyn V Zeman
collection DOAJ
description Confirming whether a patient has autoimmune liver disease is challenging, given its varied presentation and complex definitions. In the continued absence of pathognomonic serum markers, diagnosis requires evaluation of laboratory investigations and, frequently, a liver biopsy – all of which need to be interpreted in the correct clinical context, with an emphasis on exclusion of viral infections, drug toxicity and metabolic disease. However, clear diagnosis is important for appropriate and timely therapy. Autoantibodies remain important tools for clinicians, and were the first proposed serological markers to aid in differentiating viral from chronic autoimmune hepatitis. Their presence is occasionally considered to be synonymous with autoimmune liver disease – a misinterpretation of their clinical significance. The present article summarizes the serum autoantibodies currently investigated in clinical and research practice, along with a description of their value in adult chronic liver diseases, with an emphasis on their appropriate use in the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune liver disease.
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spelling doaj-art-8fd7faee03cc430ba57f4e4bc155afac2025-02-03T01:32:04ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79002010-01-0124422523110.1155/2010/431913Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and AbusesMarilyn V Zeman0Gideon M Hirschfield1Liver Centre, Toronto Western Hospital/University Health Network and the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLiver Centre, Toronto Western Hospital/University Health Network and the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaConfirming whether a patient has autoimmune liver disease is challenging, given its varied presentation and complex definitions. In the continued absence of pathognomonic serum markers, diagnosis requires evaluation of laboratory investigations and, frequently, a liver biopsy – all of which need to be interpreted in the correct clinical context, with an emphasis on exclusion of viral infections, drug toxicity and metabolic disease. However, clear diagnosis is important for appropriate and timely therapy. Autoantibodies remain important tools for clinicians, and were the first proposed serological markers to aid in differentiating viral from chronic autoimmune hepatitis. Their presence is occasionally considered to be synonymous with autoimmune liver disease – a misinterpretation of their clinical significance. The present article summarizes the serum autoantibodies currently investigated in clinical and research practice, along with a description of their value in adult chronic liver diseases, with an emphasis on their appropriate use in the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune liver disease.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/431913
spellingShingle Marilyn V Zeman
Gideon M Hirschfield
Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
title_full Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
title_fullStr Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
title_full_unstemmed Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
title_short Autoantibodies and Liver Disease: Uses and Abuses
title_sort autoantibodies and liver disease uses and abuses
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/431913
work_keys_str_mv AT marilynvzeman autoantibodiesandliverdiseaseusesandabuses
AT gideonmhirschfield autoantibodiesandliverdiseaseusesandabuses