Evaluation of malnutrition and immunity in alcoholic liver diseases
Schlienger, J.L.; Willemin, B.; Lang, J.M.; North, M.L.; Simon, C.; Doffoel, M.; Bockel, R.
Presse Medicale 15(22): 1023-1027
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 2942868 Document Number: 269989
Disorders of immunity and nutritional status are known to be present in alcohol-induced diseases of the liver, but their significance is still debated. Nutrition and immunity were evaluated at different stages of the disease in 58 alcoholic patients with steatosis (n = 20), alcoholic hepatitis (n = 14) or cirrhosis (n = 24). Most of the anthropometric data and biochemical values relating to nutrition were altered to the same degree in these 3 groups. Only patients with cirrhosis had significantly lower blood albumin and zinc levels (P less than 0.01). Humoral immunity was altered in cirrhosis only and cellular immunity in all 3 liver diseases. There was no correlation between immunity and nutrition (except for blood zinc and E rosettes; P less than 0.01) or between these and alcohol consumption. Like several nutritional parameters, blood lymphocyte values correlated negatively with a liver disease severity index. It is concluded that disorders of nutrition and immunity are broadly comparable in alcohol-induced liver diseases; there is no direct statistical correlation between these disorders which seem to be independent of the type of liver disease.