Circulating immune complexes involving autoantibodies in chronic active hepatitis

The mere presence of circulating immune complexes has been extensively reported in inflammatory liver diseases. In the present study, immune complexes were determined in 6 patients with HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. If present they were characterized concerning size and possible autoantibody-specificity. In four of these patients, zonal profiles differed markedly from normal controls and high molecular weight IgG-reactive substances with specificity against nuclear, smooth muscle and liver membrane antigens were demonstrated. Two patients were investigated repeatedly during one year of prednisone therapy and complex levels and size decreased along with clinical and biochemical improvement. Also in four positive controls with active SLE, complexes of up to 38 S containing antinuclear antibodies were detected. In contrast to patients with chronic hepatitis, SLE patients all had normal levels of serum gammaglobulin. It was concluded that immune complexes, present in liver disease without systemic organ-involvement and containing autoantibodies, might possibly reflect the normal immune clearance.