[Experimental studies on idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH)--prolonged sensitization of rabbits with human spleen of IPH].
Recently, it has been suggested that there is an immunological mechanism in the etiology of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) and that the spleen plays a very important role. In the present study, the extract of human IPH spleen with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was injected into rabbits, which were then examined both immunologically and pathologically. The results of the study are summarized as follows: Portal venous pressure was significantly increased in rabbits sensitized for more than one hundred days. Portal venous pressure of 175 mm H2O or more was observed in approximately 80% of the animals. Splenomegaly of 3.0 g or more was noted in all sensitized rabbits. Maximum spleen weight was 8.0 g. Peripheral blood cell counts decreased as the duration of sensitization increased. In immunological examination, smooth muscle antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies and antimitochondrial antibodies, were noted in some rabbits. In histological examination, the livers of sensitized rabbits in the early stage showed the infiltration of small round cells and fibrosis into Glisson's capsule. These changes were found to increase in later stages. In some rabbits, fibrosis around the interlobular bile duct was observed. The spleens of sensitized rabbits in the early stage showed splenitis with infiltration of small round cells and plasma cells. Sinus hyperplasia and fibrosis in the red and white pulp increased progressively as the period of sensitization lengthened. These results are similar in many respects to the clinical and pathological features of IPH. Thus, it is strongly suggested that the immunological mechanism may affect the pathogenesis of IPH in human.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D014020:Tissue Extracts