Abstract
Orthotopic transplantation of the human liver has shown that the liver is a source of C4, C3, and C5 in man. It is therefore of interest to study the complement system in patients with hepatitis. Such studies may also provide information about the immune response to such antigens as hepatitis associated antigen (HAA); this response is thought to underlie some of the hepatic damage in this disease. Patients without immunosuppressive therapy showed consistent reduction in CH50, C4, and C3; in increasing order of reduction they are chronic persistent hepatitis (20 cases), chronic aggressive hepatitis (18 cases), fulminant hepatitis (5 cases), and liver cirrhosis (30 cases). In acute hepatitis (50 cases) these titers showed significant increases which correlated with disease activity as reflected by serum enzyme (SGOT) levels. In chronic hepatitis, similar changes were associated with SGOT activity, but these were superimposed on a baseline which fell with time below normal levels.
- Copyright © 1973 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
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