Concomitant development of chronic active hepatitis and antibodies to ribosomal P proteins in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We describe a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient who for several years had typical SLE features and positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), including anti-native DNA. Over the course of a year, 4 years after the SLE was diagnosed, the ANA disappeared and antibodies to cytoplasmic component ribosomal P protein (anti-P) appeared. Associated with the appearance of anti-P antibodies was the development of biochemical evidence of liver disease, later shown histologically to be chronic active hepatitis. The temporal relationship between the occurrence of anti-P antibodies and the development of liver disease raises the possibility of a role for anti-P antibodies in liver disease.