AUTOANTIBODIES, HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS AND TESTOSTERONE IN MALES WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (1) , 31-37
Abstract
Titers and Ig classes of autoantibodies were examined in 69 male patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and the findings were related to particular human leukocyte antigens and serum testosterone [T] concentration. Both anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) were significantly more prevalent in patients with cirrhosis than in sex- and age-matched controls. Antimitochondrial antibodies and liver cell membrane antibody were found in 4% of the patients, and in none of the controls, but this difference was not significant. Patients with HLA-B8 and/or HLA-B12 had higher titers of ANA (n.s. [not significant]) and SMA (P < 0.05) than patients without these HLA antigens. Serum T concentrations were significantly lower in ANA-positive patients than in those negative (P < 0.05), and a similar tendency was found in SMA-positive patients. With increasing ANA titers the T concentration fell. Serum T concentration correlated inversely (P < 0.05) with plasma IgG and IgA. Evidently both genetic and hormonal factors may influence the humoral immune response in these patients.