OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and laboratory features of anti-soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas (SLA/LP) autoantibody positive patients with abnormal liver functions.

METHODSFrom July 1999 to August 2004, 4928 serum samples from patients with abnormal liver functions (ALT >40 U/L) were collected. A series of autoantibody examinations were carried out. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of 8 patients with anti-SLA/LP autoantibody positive were reviewed.

RESULTSAmong the 5500 serum samples, 8 cases (6 females and 2 males) with positive anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies were found with complete clinical information. The age of the patients was (27-76) years old. The case histories were from 2 years to 10 years. Of the 8 patients, 6 cases had liver cirrhosis and HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-negative, active, 1 case had liver cirrhosis with HBsAg-positive, but HBVDNA negative; 1 case had liver cirrhosis and anti-HCV positive, but HCV RNA negative. The 8 cases were all ANA positive with titers of 31:320. Four cases were AMA positive and 2 among these 4 cases were M2 positive. The most frequent symptoms were fatigue, anorexia, nausea, jaundice, abdominal distention and edema of lower limbs. All patients had high hypergammaglobulinemia.

CONCLUSIONAnti-SLA/LP autoantibody was at a low detection rate in the study with females in preponderance, Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the 8 cases were consistent with those of the autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Testing for anti-SLA autoantibodies helps in the diagnosis of AIH in many patients who may otherwise be misdiagnosed.