Autoantibodies and immunoglobulins in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Relation to measurements of hepatic function and hemodynamics.

In order to evaluate the possible relation between hepatic function and hemodynamics and the increased humoral immune response of cirrhotic patients, titres of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) and concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, A and M were determined in 74 consecutive patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Patients showed significantly (p less than 0.05) increased prevalences of ANA and SMA and concentrations of Ig G, A and M when compared to controls. No significant correlations were found between titres of ANA or SMA and hepatic scan score, galactose elimination capacity, indocyanine green clearance, hepatic blood flow and wedged-to-free hepatic vein pressure. Hepatic scan score correlated directly (rho = 0.38, p less than 0.05) to IgA concentrations; wedged-to-free hepatic vein pressure correlated directly to IgG concentrations (rho = 0.35, p less than 0.05) and to IgM concentrations (rho = 0.42, p less than 0.01). No other significant correlations were found between Ig concentrations and variables of hepatic function or hemodynamics.