Immune regulation dysfunction in chronic persistent hepatitis

The study included 19 children diagnosed clinically, biochemically, and by liver biopsy as having chronic persistent hepatitis. The following investigations were carried out: 1. detection of total T-lymphocytes, T-helper, and T-suppressor cells using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8); 2. determination of HLA-A, B and DR antigens using the microcytotoxicity technique. The results were analysed in comparison with data from a normal control group. There are several important findings. First, low total T-lymphocytes with increased proportion of suppressor cells (P less than 0.001). Second, strong association between HLA-A1 antigen and CPH (Fisher exact = 0.000022). Third, significant association between the immunoregulatory dysfunction and A1 antigen (Fisher exact = 0.033). This observation suggests that a genetic component may influence susceptibility to CPH through an increased suppressor response.