Presence of Serum Antinuclear Antibodies Does Not Impact Long-Term Outcomes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Aug;115(8):1289-1292. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000676.

Abstract

Introduction: We investigated the longitudinal impact of antinuclear antibody (ANA) on clinical outcomes and survival in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: ANA were found in 16.9% of 923 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients, but none of them had histologic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or developed AIH after a mean follow-up of 106±50 months.

Results: Although ANA-positive cases had a higher prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis at baseline, the occurrence of liver-related events, hepatocellula carcinoma, cardiovascular events, extrahepatic malignancy, and overall survival were similar to ANA-negative.

Discussion: Once AIH has been ruled out, the long-term outcomes and survival are unaffected by the presence of ANA in patients with NAFLD.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood*
  • Biopsy
  • England / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / blood
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / epidemiology*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / mortality
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear