ANTI-F(AB')(2) AUTOANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Autoantibodies against the Fab-region of human IgG have been shown to be associated with a progression of disease in patients with cancer an d in those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. We therefor e looked for the prevalence of these autoantibodies in patients with l iver cirrhosis. In 18% of ?he patients elevated levels of IgA-anti-F(a b')(2) and in 31% of the pa tien ts elevated levels of IgG-anti-F(ab') autoantibodies were found. 48% of the patients had at least one of th e antibodies increased. There were correlations between them and the s tage of the disease in the Child-Pugh classification.