[Immunologic parameters in pericholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis with and without ulcerative colitis]

Immunological parameters and histocompatibility antigens (HLA) were determined in seven patients with non-bacterial cholangitis. Four patients had pericholangitis and ulcerative colitis, three had primary sclerosing cholangitis, one of these with ulcerative colitis. All 7 patients had antinuclear antibodies; however, there were no antibodies against DNA, against mitochondria or liver membrane antigens. One patient had low-titre rheuma factors. Immunoglobulins G, A and M and complement components C3 and C4 were mostly in the normal range. HLA constellation was positive for B8 in 6 patients. These were male patients with disease manifestations between the 12th and 45th year of life. The results support the concept that pericholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis with or without ulcerative colitis are related hepatological disease entities with an immunological pathogenesis and an underlying genetical determination.