Plasma CCL16 Chemokine Secretion and Expression in Liver Tissue of Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

10 cases was confirmed the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis and in 4 cases the biopsy was compatible with steatosis/ steatohepatitis. Twenty-two patients were included in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of plasma CCL16 levels (p = NS). Its concentration was not associated with the presence of liver fibrosis in the biopsy (p = 0.28) or with the response after 6 months of treatment (p = 0.90). Conclu-sion . This is a study that has determined the expression of chemokine CCL16 in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. It was observed that the plasma secretion of CCL16 decreased in the autoimmune hepatitis group, compared to the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant.