[Anti-Gram-negative bacterial antibodies in alcoholic cirrhosis. Study of 58 patients]

Gram-negative bacterial infections are frequent and severe in cirrhotic patients. Existence of endotoxemia in cirrhosis is controversial. The demonstration of Gram-negative bacterial antibodies could be an alternative approach to the pathogenic role of these bacteria. In 58 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, the immunoglobulin G specifically directed against the Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide expressed by the J5 mutant of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 was measured. Antibody titres were compared to those of a control group of blood donors. The distributions of antibody titres were similar in cirrhotic patients and in control subjects. No correlation was found between antibody titres and biological parameters of liver function. These results seem to confirm previous reports on the absence of latent endotoxemia in cirrhotic patients, and they suggest that antibody production against Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharides is not enhanced in these patients.