Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis in a family

In autoimmune diseases, the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a tissue type or secretory product as being a foreign substance, and produces antibodies against those parts of itself that it identifies as such. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and celiac disease are two well studied forms of autoimmune disease; recent evidence suggests that at least one variant of chronic active hepatitis (an inflammatory condition affecting the liver) may have an autoimmune component. Close relatives of patients with chronic active hepatitis are reported to have a higher incidence of autoimmune disorders, suggesting a strong genetic basis; no compelling evidence has been reported to date documenting increased intrafamily incidence of this condition. A family is described in which five of seven siblings developed autoimmune conditions including multiple instances of chronic active hepatitis. Three sisters developed chronic active hepatitis, one sister yielded blood test results that indicated a degree of autoimmunity (asymptomatic at that point), and another sister developed celiac and thyroid autoimmune conditions. Two brothers were healthy and had no signs of autoimmunity of any sort. Biochemical analysis of the immune system background (determination of HLA type) of each sibling in the family indicated that, in association with the female sex, the DR3 histocompatibility antigen seemed to be more important than the B8 antigen in conferring susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)