Changes in serum immunoglobulins and complement in non bilharzial chronic liver diseased patients

ABSTRACT

This work was performed on 32 patients with non Bilharzial chronic liver disease [11 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 8 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 5 patients with chronic hepatitis and 8 patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis]. The diagnosis was confirmed by liver biopsy. The serum immunoglobulins [IgG, IgA and IgM], complement components [C[4] and C[3], the whole complement titre [CH[50]] and liver functions were investigated in all studied cases. The results revealed high incidence of increased serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C[4], C[3] levels and low CH[50]] titre in most studied groups of patients. These findings in association with the absence of any relationship with the liver function tests suggested that the changes in the studied parameters was dependent on the immune reactions and immune mechanisms [whether hepatic or extrahepatic] rather than on the hepatic pathological changes or the function of the remaining liver tissue. Moreover the results were favouring increased hepatic and or extrahepatic synthesis more than decreased catabolism of these immunoglobulins and complement components