Haemolytic complement, anticomplementry activity and hepatitis B antigen in sera of patients with cirrhosis of the liver
Kelkar, S.S.; Karhade, N.V.; Kotwal, S.E.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 63(1): 41-44
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 1213709 Document Number: 93881
Sera from 50 cases of liver cirrhosis were studied for presence of hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag), anticomplementary (AC) activity and level of hemolytic complement [HC]. The latter 2 tests were done within 2 h of collection of the sample to reduce artifacts. Of the 50 sera, 15 (30%) showed HB Ag by the immunoelectroosmophoretic technique; none contained hepatitis B antibody. AC activity is thus uncommon when sera are tested freshly. The remaining 48 sera had reduced levels of HC when compared with levels in 25 normal healthy individuals (P = 0.00006). Similarly, the levels of HC in the HB Ag-positive group and the HB Ag-negative group were significantly lower than the controls; the levels of HC in these 2 groups, when compared with one another, did not show a significant difference. Reduction of HC may be due to reduced synthesis by the damaged liver or due to its utilization in possibly immunopathogenetic mechanisms.