Antibodies to Escherichia Coli in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Patients with Cirrhosis of the Liver or Fatty Liver

Abstract

Prytz, Hanne, Björneboe, M. Örskov, F. & Hilden, M. 1973. Antibodies to Escherichia Coli in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Patients with Cirrhosis of the Liver or Fatty Liver. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 433-438.

Increased amounts of antibodies to Escherichia coli (E.coli) in liver cirrhosis have been reported (3). In the present study agglutinin titrations were carried out on sera from four groups of patients, using the same E.coli O-groups. The patient groups consisted of 81 cirrhotics (37 alcoholics and 44 non-alcoholics), 16 patients with fatty liver (8 alcoholics and 8 non-alcoholics), 9 chronic alcoholics without liver disease and 26 controls. The previous findings were confirmed. In addition, increased amounts of antibodies to E. coli were found in patients with fatty liver. Higher amounts of antibodies were found in alcoholic than in non-alcoholic liver disease. Differences in the immunoinhibiting ability of the liver in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease may be of causal significance.

Key-words::

• Alcoholic
• antibodies
• cirrhosis
• coli
• fatty liver
• immunoglobulins
• non-alcoholic