Abstract

BACKGROUND Bile tolerant helicobacter species such as H hepaticus andH bilis have frequently been reported to cause hepatitis in mice and other rodents.

AIMS To investigate the possible pathogenic role of these and other helicobacter species in chronic liver disease in humans.

METHODS Serum samples from 144 patients with various chronic liver diseases, 30 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and 48 healthy blood donors were analysed for antibodies against H hepaticus murine strain CCUG 33637 and H pylori strain CCUG 17874. Cell surface proteins of H hepaticuswere extracted by acid glycine buffer and used in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunoblot (IB).

RESULTS 56 of 144 (39%) patients with chronic liver diseases and six of 30 (20%) with PSC showed increased antibody concentrations in the H hepaticus EIA; in the H pylori EIA the numbers were 58% and 13% respectively. Compared with the healthy blood donors the antibody reactivity against the two helicobacter species was not increased (46% and 48% respectively). Patient serum samples retested by the H hepaticus EIA after absorption with sonicated H pyloricells remained positive in 12 of 37 (33%) serum samples. Distinct antibody reactivity to 55–65 kDa proteins was observed byH hepaticus IB, after the absorption step, and was considered specific for H hepaticus. These 12 serum samples were from patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS Antibodies toH hepaticus, often cross reacting withH pylori, occur frequently in patients with chronic liver diseases, with no clear cut relation to specific diagnostic groups. The pathogenic significance of these findings is not known.