IgA deposition in liver in alcoholic liver disease. An index of progressive injury.

A retrospective study was done to evaluate the prognostic importance of the patterns of IgA deposition in the liver in alcoholic liver disease. The patterns of IgA deposition in the liver were determined by direct immunofluorescence with fluorescein conjugated rabbit antihuman IgA. Twenty of 40 patients showed a characteristic continuous pattern, and 20 patients showed the nonspecific discontinuous pattern of IgA deposition in the liver. Alcoholic liver disease progressed considerably in 14 (70%) of the 20 patients with an initial continuous pattern and in three (15%) of the 20 patients with an initial discontinuous pattern. Alcoholic liver disease did not progress in six (30%) of 20 patients with an initial continuous pattern and in 17 (85%) of the 20 patients with an initial discontinuous pattern of IgA deposition in the liver.