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Contrasting IgE Levels in Acute HB s Ag‐positive and Negative Hepatitis
Author(s) -
Charlesworth J. A.,
Lennane R. J.,
Jones P.,
Lawrence S.,
Boughton C. R.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1978.tb02401.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunoglobulin e , cirrhosis , alcoholic hepatitis , immunology , hepatitis , acute hepatitis , gastroenterology , antigen , alcoholic liver disease , antibody
Summary Serial measurements of serum IgE were performed in 54 patients with acute, uncomplicated hepatitis; 28 had detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HB s Ag). Eight patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were also studied. Acute phase IgE reactivity was examined in two otherwise healthy subjects undergoing routine cholecystectomy. Significant elevation of IgE was found in the patients with hepatitis B and alcoholic cirrhosis. In the former group this abnormality persisted, although to a reduced extent, for at least four weeks after admission. There was no significant association between levels of IgE and SGPT or the persistence of detectable HB s Ag. It is suggested that these data either reflect activity of a system mediating liver cell injury or result from an antigenic stimulus that is secondary to preexisting hepatic damage.