Profiles of Serum Complement in Patients with Hepatobiliary Diseases

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Abstract
CH50 [whole serum complement hemolytic activity] and the concentrations of C3 [complement component 3], C4, C.hivin.1 INH [activated C1 inhibitor] and factor B were measured in sera from 34 control subjects and 178 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), chronic active hepatitis (CAH), cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), Wilson''s disease (WD), large duct biliary obstruction (LDBO) and viral hepatitis (VH). CH50 was decreased in CAH and CC. C3 was increased in PBC, LDBO and VH and decreased in CAH and CC. C4 was decreased in PBC, CAH, ALD and WD. C.hivin.1 INH was increased in PBC, CAH, ALD, LDBO and VH. Factor B was increased in LDBO and VH and decreased in CC. In none of the patient groups was the mean C4 level increased or the mean C.hivin.1 INH level decreased. All 5 indices of serum C were lower in ascitic than nonascitic patients. Data on serum C were similar in HBsAg [hepatitis B surface antigen] positive and negative VH. Discriminant analysis facilitated separation of all the patient groups on the basis of C data, except PBC and VH. Analysis of data using a within-group correlation matrix revealed a significant negative correlation between C4, the most discriminating variable of serum C in CAH, and .gamma.-globulin concentration in CAH. The possible contribution of factors such as activation of C, impaired hepatic synthesis of C components, as acute phase response and cholestasis to altered serum C profiles in differential hepatobiliary diseases was discussed.