[Immunoglobulins and non-organ-specific antibodies in alcoholic liver cirrhosis]

The quantitative alterations of serum immunoglobulins and their relationship with functional liver alterations, and the incidence of non organ-specific antibodies have been studied in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The study was performed in 52 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, and 30 healthy subjects were used as controls. Main findings were: increased serum IgA, IgG, and IgM in cirrhosis (p less than 0.001), increased IgA in liver failure (p less than 0.005), and increased IgM in patients with portal hypertension (p less than 0.001). Regarding non organ-specific antibodies, antinuclear antibodies were found in 28 % of the cases, and anti-smooth muscle antibodies in 9 %. No relationship could be established between antibody positivity and quantitative alterations of the serum immunoglobulins.