[Immunopathology of the hepatic damage caused by alcohol. Recent acquisitions]

Recent findings in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease suggest that immunological factors play a leading part in addition to the damaging action of alcohol. Immunological phenomena affected by Mallory's bodies take on considerable importance with respect to humoral immunity. As regards cell immunity, the leucocyte migration inhibition test shows that the lymphocytes of liver-diseased alcoholics can produce the migration inhibiting factor. Deposit of collagen in the liver appears to be induced by lymphocytes sensitized by Mallory's bodies. Recent experimental studies based on the use of collagen synthesis inhibitors (colchicine and penicillamine) may have therapeutic implications.