Abstract |
Immunological abnormalities frequently observed in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis are considered to be related to the pathogenesis of this disease. We performed a prospective trial to evaluate whether immune mechanisms play a role in the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy. Fifteen female patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were followed for 1 year and were then treated with UDCA (600 mg/day) for another year. Laboratory tests, including peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets assessed by dual colour fluorescence analysis using monoclonal antibodies against respective T cell markers, were evaluated at the beginning of the study, at the start of therapy and at the end of therapy. In primary biliary cirrhosis, the proportion of cytotoxic T cells, suppressor inducer T cells and alpha beta-receptor bearing T cells were significantly lower than in healthy controls. No significant changes were observed in the proportions during the year before the therapy. These reductions, however, recovered to normal ranges after 1 year of UDCA therapy. These changes were associated with an improvement in the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-globulin and IgM. The close correlation between the improvement in the imbalance of lymphocyte subsets after the therapy and the clinical status suggests that an immunological process may play a role in the effectiveness of therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis.
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Authors | T Ikeda, C Sato, O Noguchi, F Kobayashi, S Tozuka, S Sakamoto, F Marumo |
Journal | Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
(J Gastroenterol Hepatol)
Vol. 11
Issue 4
Pg. 366-72
(Apr 1996)
ISSN: 0815-9319 [Print] Australia |
PMID | 8713704
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Blood Cells
(drug effects, pathology)
- Female
- Humans
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary
(blood, drug therapy)
- Lymphocyte Subsets
(drug effects, pathology)
- Middle Aged
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid
(therapeutic use)
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