Immunopathologic studies of renal glomerular change in liver cirrhosis with special reference to its pathogenesis

The kidneys from 62 proven liver cirrhosis cases were examined by immunofluorescence (IF), and 94% of the cases were positive for some immune reactants deposition. Combined deposition of immunoglobulin(s), both or each one of C1q and C4, and further with C3 were observed in about 70% of all IF positive cases. The morphological alterations of the glomeruli correlated with the intensities of regional immune reactants depositions. Guinea pig C3 was frequently activated in vitro on the glomeruli of these cases. Immune reactants depositions in the glomeruli appeared to form immune complex locally. Smooth muscle and liver cell antigens in the immune complex at the glomeruli were examined by indirect method of IF using monospecific antibodies and positive cases concerning each antigen were found in about 1/3 of the kidneys from 21 liver cirrhosis cases. These facts suggest that the high rate of the occurrence of immune complex deposition type glomerulo-nephritis may be due to the glomerular deposition of some autoantigen-antibody complexes including smooth muscle and liver cell antigens.