Detection and its clinical significance of circulating immune complexes by C₁q-binding test in various liver diseases

Abstract

Immune complexes (I.C.) in the sera of patients with various liver diseases were detected by C₁q-binding test.
I.C. were positive in the sera from 3 of 21 patients with asymptomatic HBs. Ag carrier (14.3%), 6 of 19 acute hepatitis (31.6%), 26 of 70 chronic hepatitis (37.1%), 29 of 44 liver cirrhosis (65.9%), 13 of 17 P.B.C. (76.5%) and 6 of 7 lupoid hepatitis (85.7%).
In sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis, very high positive frequency (81.8%), almost compatible with those in P.B.C. or lupoid hepatitis, was found.
High C₁q-binding activity values were most frequently found in sera from patients with symptoms such as nephropathy, arthralgia and rash, with increased serum gamma globulin concentrations or with a decrease in hepatic clearance of ¹⁹⁸Au-Colloid.
It is suggested that the presence of port-systemic shunt and impairment of reticuloendothelial function, besides autoimmune mechanism, were mostly concerned with appearance of I.C. in liver diseases.