Autoimmunity to a liver membrane lipoprotein and liver damage in alcoholic liver disease. Issue 2 (February 1981)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perperas, A; Tsantoulas, D; Portmann, B; Eddleston, A L; Williams, R
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 22:Issue 2(1981)
• Page Start: 149
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 1981-02
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.22.2.149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : Antibodies reacting with a liver membrane lipoprotein (LSP) have been detected by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 15 (27%) of 55 patients with alcohol-related liver lesions. There was a close association between the presence of the anti-LSP antibody and the findings on liver biopsy of a lymphocytic infiltrate in the portal tracts together with piecemeal necrosis of periportal hepatocytes. These histological features are characteristically found in the autoimmune disorder of chronic active hepatitis, in which anti-LSP antibodies are almost invariably present. It is suggested that in these cases of alcoholic liver disease there is loss of tolerance, and continued production of anti-LSP could promote periportal inflammation and accelerate the progression to cirrhosis. In the cases of acute alcoholic hepatitis without periportal inflammation studied, anti-LSP was not detected demonstrating that production of this autoantibody is not simply secondary to liver damage.