ON THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF AUTOIMMUNIZATION IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS

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The results obtained at author’s laboratory in these several years with liver cirrhosis were reviewed from the standpoint of immunopathology, collating with the “markers” introduced by Mackay & Burnet together with their criterion of autoimmune diseases. It was clarified that, in liver cirrhosis, 1) elevated level of γ-globulin was noticeable in the plasma, 2) autoantibodies against the liver were demonstrable, frequently, 3) some immunoglobulin deposit was shown in the liver as well as in the kidney, 4) lympho and plasma cytic infiltration was marked in the liver, histologically, 5) corticosteroid was said effective, to some extent, 6) some other conditions which might be related with autoimmune process were found coexisting, not rarely. Thus, as far as these “markers” are concerned, the possibility is high that autoimmunization is more or less causing some influences on liver cirrhosis. However, it seems difficult to distinguish the lesion of strict autoimmunization from the one of general hypersensitivity in a wide sense. It is almost certain that some immune process is playing an important role in liver cirrhosis, but it should require further study to determine whether this can be called a real autoimmune disease or not.