Profiles of serum complement in patients with hepatobiliary diseases.
CH50 and the concentrations of C3, C4, C1 INH and factor B have been measured in sera from 34 control subjects and 178 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), chronic active hepatitis (CAH), cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), Wilson's disease (WD), large duct biliary obstruction (LDBO) and viral hepatitis (VH). CH50 was decreased in CAH and CC. C3 was increased in PBC, LDBO and VH and decreased in CAH and CC. C4 was decreased in PBC, CAH, ALD and WD. C1 INH was increased in PBC, CAH, ALD, LDBO and VH. Factor B was increased in LDBO and VH and decreased in CC. In none of the patient groups was the mean C4 level increased or the mean C1 INH level decreased. All 5 indices of serum complement were lower in ascitic than nonascitic patients. Data on serum complement were similar in HBsAg positive and negative VH. Discriminant analysis facilitated separation of all the patient groups on the basis of complement data, except PBC and VA. Analysis of data using a within-group correlation matrix revealed a significant negative correlation between C4, the most discriminating variable of serum complement in CAH, and gamma-globulin concentration in CAH. The possible contribution of factors such as activation of complement, impaired hepatic synthesis of complement components, an acute phase response and cholestasis to altered serum complement profiles in different hepatobiliary diseases is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000276:immunology; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000032:analysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D011415:Complement Factor B