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Joseph Wybran, MD; André Govaerts, MD; H. Hugh Fudenberg, MD

JAMA. 1975;232(1):57-58.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The immune system and various hepatic diseases appear to be closely related; indeed, immunologic abnormalities are described in various hepatic disorders. For instance, primary biliary cirrhosis is associated with the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies and with a decreased response of blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin, suggesting a defect in the T-cell system. Because in some instances active chronic hepatitis is also associated with various autoantibodies, it has been possible to subclassify this disease. It remains to be determined, however, if these immune abnormalities are pathogenic or only a secondary phenomenon.

Some immunological aspects of alcoholic liver disease have already been investigated. It has been known that patients with this condition show an increase in levels of serum globulins. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain this hyperglobulinemia. In one theory, the Kupffer cells proliferate after liver cell damage, and production of their lysosomal enzymes increases, so that the cells become activated . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Hôpital Universitaire St. Pierre Brussels; University of California San Francisco

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