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Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and antismooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs) are the most common serologic markers for the presence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), but up to 30% of patients with AIH do not show elevated titers. To investigate whether the presence of autoantibodies in AIH correlates with clinical presentation, histologic findings, or treatment response, researchers retrospectively studied 52 AIH patients (mean age, 53; 79% female) from a single academic hepatology clinic.
All patients had been treated with immunosuppressant therapy, had been followed for at least 6 months after beginning treatment, and had available liver biopsy samples. Forty-two patients were seropositive for autoantibodies (ANA or ASMA titers ≥1:40), and 10 patie…