Abstract
Serum-immunoglobulin (Ig) and complement (C3) levels of 70 patients with liver cirrhosis and acute/chronic hepatitis were studied in comparison with those in 133 cases with a variety of allergic disorders. In liver cirrhosis, especially in advanced cases, an increase in IgG, A, M, D and E concentrations was observed.
A rise in IgE level in liver cirrhosis, the greatest among liver diseases, was almost the same as that in reaginic asthma and larger than that in allergic rhinitis and urticaria, while smaller than that in atopic dermatitis. C3 level decreased in cirrhosis, especially in advanced cases. In cirrhosis, Ig levels increased as the disease advanced, and reduced in convalescence. In chronic hepatitis, although alterations of IgM, D and E were insignificant, there appeared an increase in IgG, and A. In acute hepatitis Ig levels were not elevated. C3 concentration fell in severe acute hepatitis and slightly decreased in active chronic hepatitis.
