Serum immunoglobulin levels in primary liver cancer: relationship to underlying cirrhosis and hepatitis-B (surface) antigenaemia

T Ipp,M C Kew,G M Macnab,E W Geddes

doi:10.1038/bjc.1975.253

Abstract

Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured by the single radial diffusion method in 107 South African Negro patients with primary hepatocellular cancer (PHC) and 112 healthy Negro blood donors. The mean serum IgG ANd IgM concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0-001) in the PHC patients. In those patients in whom PHC was associated with cirrhosis, the serum IgG level was greater (P less than 0-02) than in those without cirrhosis. However, the mean serum IgG concentration in the non-cirrhotic cancer patients was still significantly higher than the control value (P less than 0-001). Thus, while cirrhosis may contribute to the raised IgG levels in PHC, other factors must also be involved. There was no difference in the serum immunoglobulin concentrations in PHC patients with and without hepatitis-B antigenaemia.

Highlights

Summary.-Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured by the single radial diffusion method in 107 South African Negro patients with primary hepatocellular cancer (PHC) and 112 healthy Negro blood donors
Primack, Vogel and Barker (1973) found serum immunoglobulin levels to be no higher than those in control subjects, and that there was no difference between the concentrations in PHC patients with and without underlying cirrhosis
We report here our findings in South African Negro patients with PHC and discuss the relationship between the serum immunoglobulin levels and the presence or absence of both underlying cirrhosis and hepatitis-B antigenaemia

Summary

Introduction

Summary.-Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured by the single radial diffusion method in 107 South African Negro patients with primary hepatocellular cancer (PHC) and 112 healthy Negro blood donors. Primack, Vogel and Barker (1973) found serum immunoglobulin levels to be no higher than those in control subjects, and that there was no difference between the concentrations in PHC patients with and without underlying cirrhosis. We report here our findings in South African Negro patients with PHC and discuss the relationship between the serum immunoglobulin levels and the presence or absence of both underlying cirrhosis and hepatitis-B antigenaemia.

Results

Conclusion