[Cryptogenetic liver cirrhosis with hypobetalipoproteinemia. Typing of the HLA histocompatibility system].

One hundred and forty-six patients with chronic liver disease have been studied. Some of them (15) showed a clinical picture characterized by cryptogenetic liver cirrhosis associated with hypotriglyceridemia and hypobetalipoproteinemia. These patients had compensated cirrhosis and no history of alcohol abuse; they did not suffer major illness in the past and had no signs of portosystemic encephalopathy. The pathogenetic mechanism of this association and the possible role of genetic factors are discussed. The HLA system has been studied and the A2 antigen found with high frequency, raising the possibility that patients with this syndrome may represent a particular subgroup among these with liver cirrhosis.